diff --git a/tools/chromeos/merge_bot b/tools/chromeos/merge_bot
index d6420cbe92..cedeb6ad72 100755
--- a/tools/chromeos/merge_bot
+++ b/tools/chromeos/merge_bot
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def setup_tracking_branch(branch_name: str, tracking: str):
 def gerrit_prerequisites():
     "Make sure we can upload to gerrit."
     # Make sure we have http cookies to access gerrit
-    cookie_file = git("config http.cookiefile").stdout()
+    cookie_file = git("config http.cookiefile").stdout(check=False)
     if not cookie_file:
         if is_gce_instance():
             # Grab http cookies for accessing GOB. See go/gob-gce
diff --git a/tools/impl/common.py b/tools/impl/common.py
index ebbc8056f0..bf8ab31cdd 100644
--- a/tools/impl/common.py
+++ b/tools/impl/common.py
@@ -180,11 +180,11 @@ class Command(object):
                 raise subprocess.CalledProcessError(result.returncode, str(self), result.stdout)
         return result.returncode
 
-    def stdout(self):
+    def stdout(self, check: bool = True):
         """
         Runs a program and returns stdout. Stderr is still directed to the user.
         """
-        return self.run(stderr=None).stdout.strip()
+        return self.run(stderr=None, check=check).stdout.strip()
 
     def lines(self):
         """