diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/http/backends/xhr_backend.ts b/modules/angular2/src/http/backends/xhr_backend.ts
index e70e2ff51725e..817e3290f3ad9 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/http/backends/xhr_backend.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/http/backends/xhr_backend.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ export class XHRConnection implements Connection {
       }
 
       ObservableWrapper.callNext(this.response, new Response(responseOptions));
+      // TODO(gdi2290): defer complete if array buffer until done
+      ObservableWrapper.callReturn(this.response);
     });
     // TODO(jeffbcross): make this more dynamic based on body type
 
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/http/backends/xhr_backend_spec.ts b/modules/angular2/test/http/backends/xhr_backend_spec.ts
index 0a109dae2f76c..88b90d2d24cfa 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/http/backends/xhr_backend_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/http/backends/xhr_backend_spec.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,16 @@ export function main() {
            existingXHRs[0].dispatchEvent('load');
          }));
 
+      it('should complete a request', inject([AsyncTestCompleter], async => {
+           var connection = new XHRConnection(sampleRequest, new MockBrowserXHR(),
+                                              new ResponseOptions({type: ResponseTypes.Error}));
+           ObservableWrapper.subscribe<Response>(connection.response, res => {
+             expect(res.type).toBe(ResponseTypes.Error);
+           }, null, () => { async.done(); });
+
+           existingXHRs[0].dispatchEvent('load');
+         }));
+
       it('should call abort when disposed', () => {
         var connection = new XHRConnection(sampleRequest, new MockBrowserXHR());
         connection.dispose();