diff --git a/elasticsearch/client/__init__.py b/elasticsearch/client/__init__.py
index 772303bb..625dbf7f 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/client/__init__.py
+++ b/elasticsearch/client/__init__.py
@@ -1244,9 +1244,12 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         :arg q: Query in the Lucene query string syntax
         :arg routing: Specific routing value
         """
-        _, data = self.transport.perform_request('POST', _make_path(index,
-            doc_type, '_search', 'exists'), params=params, body=body)
-        return data
+        try:
+            self.transport.perform_request('POST', _make_path(index,
+                doc_type, '_search', 'exists'), params=params, body=body)
+        except NotFoundError:
+            return False
+        return True
 
     @query_params('allow_no_indices', 'expand_wildcards', 'fields',
         'ignore_unavailable', 'level')
diff --git a/elasticsearch/transport.py b/elasticsearch/transport.py
index 6f82eb66..9f553200 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/transport.py
+++ b/elasticsearch/transport.py
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ class Transport(object):
             body = self.serializer.dumps(body)
 
             # some clients or environments don't support sending GET with body
-            if method == 'GET' and self.send_get_body_as != 'GET':
+            if method in ('HEAD', 'GET') and self.send_get_body_as != 'GET':
                 # send it as post instead
                 if self.send_get_body_as == 'POST':
                     method = 'POST'