diff --git a/.changeset/fuzzy-eyes-collect.md b/.changeset/fuzzy-eyes-collect.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc057aca7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fuzzy-eyes-collect.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@nomicfoundation/hardhat-verify": patch
+---
+
+Make the `--force` flag override the check of any existing verification, even in the presence of errors.
diff --git a/packages/hardhat-verify/src/internal/tasks/etherscan.ts b/packages/hardhat-verify/src/internal/tasks/etherscan.ts
index e238896ebf..1154f8abf7 100644
--- a/packages/hardhat-verify/src/internal/tasks/etherscan.ts
+++ b/packages/hardhat-verify/src/internal/tasks/etherscan.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   UnexpectedNumberOfFilesError,
   VerificationAPIUnexpectedMessageError,
   ContractAlreadyVerifiedError,
+  NetworkRequestError,
 } from "../errors";
 import { Etherscan } from "../etherscan";
 import { Bytecode } from "../solc/bytecode";
@@ -102,7 +103,15 @@ subtask(TASK_VERIFY_ETHERSCAN)
       chainConfig
     );
 
-    const isVerified = await etherscan.isVerified(address);
+    let isVerified = false;
+    try {
+      isVerified = await etherscan.isVerified(address);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (!force || err instanceof NetworkRequestError) {
+        throw err;
+      }
+      // https://github.com/blockscout/blockscout/issues/9001
+    }
     if (!force && isVerified) {
       const contractURL = etherscan.getContractUrl(address);
       console.log(`The contract ${address} has already been verified on the block explorer. If you're trying to verify a partially verified contract, please use the --force flag.