diff --git a/org.planqk.nisq.analyzer.core/src/main/java/org/planqk/nisq/analyzer/core/connector/qiskit/QiskitSdkConnector.java b/org.planqk.nisq.analyzer.core/src/main/java/org/planqk/nisq/analyzer/core/connector/qiskit/QiskitSdkConnector.java
index 7a31ac03..325e1440 100644
--- a/org.planqk.nisq.analyzer.core/src/main/java/org/planqk/nisq/analyzer/core/connector/qiskit/QiskitSdkConnector.java
+++ b/org.planqk.nisq.analyzer.core/src/main/java/org/planqk/nisq/analyzer/core/connector/qiskit/QiskitSdkConnector.java
@@ -381,18 +381,28 @@ public Optional<Qpu> getQpuByName(String name, String provider, String token) {
 
     public Integer getQueueSizeOfQpu(String qpuName) {
         URI ibmqQueueSizeUrl = URI.create(String.format("https://api.quantum-computing.ibm.com/api/Backends/%s/queue/status?", qpuName));
+        LOG.debug("Requesting IBMQ for queue size");
         RestTemplate restTemplate = new RestTemplate();
 
+        // fake user agent, as IBMQ blocks Java/1.8
+        HttpHeaders headers = new HttpHeaders();
+        headers.set("user-agent", "python-requests/2.27.1");
+
+        HttpEntity<String> entity = new HttpEntity<>(headers);
+
         try {
-            IbmqQpuQueue ibmqQpuQueue = restTemplate.getForObject(ibmqQueueSizeUrl, IbmqQpuQueue.class);
+            ResponseEntity<IbmqQpuQueue> response =
+                restTemplate.exchange(ibmqQueueSizeUrl, HttpMethod.GET, entity, IbmqQpuQueue.class);
+
+            IbmqQpuQueue ibmqQpuQueue = response.getBody();
 
             if (ibmqQpuQueue != null) {
                 return ibmqQpuQueue.getLengthQueue();
             } else {
-                return 0;
+                return 100;
             }
         } catch (RestClientException e) {
-            return 0;
+            return 100;
         }
     }
 }