diff --git a/github_jira_sync_app/main.py b/github_jira_sync_app/main.py
index 0299775..0c7c2f1 100644
--- a/github_jira_sync_app/main.py
+++ b/github_jira_sync_app/main.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 from github import GithubException
 from github import GithubIntegration
 from github import Issue
-from github import UnknownObjectException
 from jira import JIRA
 from mistletoe import Document  # type: ignore[import]
 from mistletoe.contrib.jira_renderer import JIRARenderer  # type: ignore[import]
@@ -300,11 +299,10 @@ async def bot(request: Request, payload: dict = Body(...)):
 
         synced_label_absent_in_repo = False
 
-        if settings["add_gh_synced_label"]:
+        if settings.get("add_gh_synced_label", False):
             try:
-                repo.get_label(gh_synced_label_name)
                 gh_issue.add_to_labels(gh_synced_label_name)
-            except UnknownObjectException:
+            except GithubException:
                 logger.warning(nonexistent_gh_label_warning)
                 synced_label_absent_in_repo = True
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/dumm_env b/tests/unit/dumm_env
index 0086b7f..0800721 100644
--- a/tests/unit/dumm_env
+++ b/tests/unit/dumm_env
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@ GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET=rezindkm3dod04h12yt8oktm8if51wtsfgljk04k
 JIRA_INSTANCE="https://my-jira.atlassian.net"
 JIRA_USERNAME=maksim.beliaev@canonical.com
 JIRA_TOKEN=mv38swy07r6ius3v90cffyi4
-DEFAULT_BOT_CONFIG='{"settings": {"components": null, "labels": ["jira"], "add_gh_comment": false, "add_gh_synced_label": false, "sync_description": true, "sync_comments": true, "epic_key": null, "jira_project_key": null, "label_mapping": null, "status_mapping": null}}'
+DEFAULT_BOT_CONFIG='{"settings": {"components": null, "labels": ["jira"], "add_gh_comment": false, "sync_description": true, "sync_comments": true, "epic_key": null, "jira_project_key": null, "label_mapping": null, "status_mapping": null}}'
 BOT_NAME="syncronize-issues-to-jira[bot]"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/unit/url_responses/github_responses_synced_label_exists.yaml b/tests/unit/url_responses/github_responses_synced_label_exists.yaml
index 38e9d92..b2384d0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/url_responses/github_responses_synced_label_exists.yaml
+++ b/tests/unit/url_responses/github_responses_synced_label_exists.yaml
@@ -1,14 +1,5 @@
 # this file is generated automatically via responses. Use _recorder.record()
 responses:
-# get the synced-to-jira label from the repo
-- response:
-    auto_calculate_content_length: false
-    body: '{"id":208045946,"node_id":"MDU6TGFiZWwyMDgwNDU5NDY=","url":"https://api.github.com:443/repos/beliaev-maksim/test-ci/labels/synced-to-jira","name":"synced-to-jira","description":"TicketinJirahasbeencreatedforthisissue","color":"f29513","default":false}'
-    content_type: text/plain
-    method: GET
-    status: 200
-    url: https://api.github.com:443/repos/beliaev-maksim/test-ci/labels/synced-to-jira
-
 # add the synced-to-jira label to the new issue
 - response:
     auto_calculate_content_length: false
diff --git a/tests/unit/url_responses/github_responses_synced_label_notfound.yaml b/tests/unit/url_responses/github_responses_synced_label_notfound.yaml
index 9d4c033..c099b68 100644
--- a/tests/unit/url_responses/github_responses_synced_label_notfound.yaml
+++ b/tests/unit/url_responses/github_responses_synced_label_notfound.yaml
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 # this file is generated automatically via responses. Use _recorder.record()
 responses:
-# get the (nonexistent) synced-to-jira label from the repo
 - response:
     auto_calculate_content_length: false
-    body: '{"message": "Not Found", "documentation_url": "https://docs.github.com/rest/issues/labels#get-a-label", "status": "404"}'
+    # this body is not accurate and requires capturing a real call
+    body: '[{"id":208045946,"node_id":"MDU6TGFiZWwyMDgwNDU5NDY=","url":"https://api.github.com:443/repos/beliaev-maksim/test-ci/labels/synced-to-jira","name":"synced-to-jira","description":"TicketinJirahasbeencreatedforthisissue","color":"f29513","default":false}]'
     content_type: text/plain
-    method: GET
-    status: 404
-    url: https://api.github.com:443/repos/beliaev-maksim/test-ci/labels/synced-to-jira
-
+    method: POST
+    # this error code is provisional
+    status: 422
+    url: https://api.github.com:443/repos/beliaev-maksim/test-ci/issues/30/labels
 # add comment to GitHub issue with warning about misconfiguration
 - response:
       auto_calculate_content_length: false