diff --git a/packages/common/http/src/client.ts b/packages/common/http/src/client.ts
index 970897a1a5..042ba5a8c9 100644
--- a/packages/common/http/src/client.ts
+++ b/packages/common/http/src/client.ts
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ export class HttpClient {
       }
 
       // Construct the request.
-      req = new HttpRequest(first, url !, options.body || null, {
+      req = new HttpRequest(first, url !, (options.body !== undefined ? options.body : null), {
         headers,
         params,
         reportProgress: options.reportProgress,
diff --git a/packages/common/http/src/request.ts b/packages/common/http/src/request.ts
index 5494d3c8c6..7bfc6d23d4 100644
--- a/packages/common/http/src/request.ts
+++ b/packages/common/http/src/request.ts
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ export class HttpRequest<T> {
     // the body argument is to use a known no-body method like GET.
     if (mightHaveBody(this.method) || !!fourth) {
       // Body is the third argument, options are the fourth.
-      this.body = third as T || null;
+      this.body = (third !== undefined) ? third as T : null;
       options = fourth;
     } else {
       // No body required, options are the third argument. The body stays null.
diff --git a/packages/common/http/src/response.ts b/packages/common/http/src/response.ts
index 961e5dced6..b30cdc8d0b 100644
--- a/packages/common/http/src/response.ts
+++ b/packages/common/http/src/response.ts
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ export class HttpResponse<T> extends HttpResponseBase {
     body?: T | null, headers?: HttpHeaders; status?: number; statusText?: string; url?: string;
   } = {}) {
     super(init);
-    this.body = init.body || null;
+    this.body = init.body !== undefined ? init.body : null;
   }
 
   readonly type: HttpEventType.Response = HttpEventType.Response;
diff --git a/packages/common/http/test/client_spec.ts b/packages/common/http/test/client_spec.ts
index 73ee65119d..b2067d6330 100644
--- a/packages/common/http/test/client_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/common/http/test/client_spec.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,26 @@ export function main() {
         expect(testReq.request.body).toBe(body);
         testReq.flush('hello world');
       });
+      it('with a json body of false', (done: DoneFn) => {
+        client.post('/test', false, {observe: 'response', responseType: 'text'}).subscribe(res => {
+          expect(res.ok).toBeTruthy();
+          expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+          done();
+        });
+        const testReq = backend.expectOne('/test');
+        expect(testReq.request.body).toBe(false);
+        testReq.flush('hello world');
+      });
+      it('with a json body of 0', (done: DoneFn) => {
+        client.post('/test', 0, {observe: 'response', responseType: 'text'}).subscribe(res => {
+          expect(res.ok).toBeTruthy();
+          expect(res.status).toBe(200);
+          done();
+        });
+        const testReq = backend.expectOne('/test');
+        expect(testReq.request.body).toBe(0);
+        testReq.flush('hello world');
+      });
       it('with an arraybuffer', (done: DoneFn) => {
         const body = new ArrayBuffer(4);
         client.post('/test', body, {observe: 'response', responseType: 'text'}).subscribe(res => {
diff --git a/packages/common/http/test/response_spec.ts b/packages/common/http/test/response_spec.ts
index 9f66b5294d..50eb29b7b2 100644
--- a/packages/common/http/test/response_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/common/http/test/response_spec.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ export function main() {
         expect(resp.ok).toBeTruthy();
         expect(resp.url).toBeNull();
       });
+      it('accepts a falsy body', () => {
+        expect(new HttpResponse({body: false}).body).toEqual(false);
+        expect(new HttpResponse({body: 0}).body).toEqual(0);
+      });
     });
     it('.ok is determined by status', () => {
       const good = new HttpResponse({status: 200});