diff --git a/pkg/cmd/repo/delete/http.go b/pkg/cmd/repo/delete/http.go
index b38224fb1..bd77328ac 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/repo/delete/http.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/repo/delete/http.go
@@ -25,13 +25,8 @@ func deleteRepo(client *http.Client, repo ghrepo.Interface) error {
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
 
-	err = api.HandleHTTPError(resp)
-
-	if resp.StatusCode == 403 {
-		return fmt.Errorf(`%w
-Try authorizing the "delete_repo" scope with "gh auth refresh -s delete_repo".`, err)
-	} else if resp.StatusCode > 299 {
-		return err
+	if resp.StatusCode > 299 {
+		return api.HandleHTTPError(resp)
 	}
 
 	return nil