diff --git a/packages/common/http/test/client_spec.ts b/packages/common/http/test/client_spec.ts
index 2a68280294..73f1c70e97 100644
--- a/packages/common/http/test/client_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/common/http/test/client_spec.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import 'rxjs/add/operator/toPromise';
 import {ddescribe, describe, iit, it} from '@angular/core/testing/src/testing_internal';
 
 import {HttpClient} from '../src/client';
-import {HttpEventType, HttpResponse} from '../src/response';
+import {HttpErrorResponse, HttpEventType, HttpResponse} from '../src/response';
 import {HttpClientTestingBackend} from '../testing/src/backend';
 
 export function main() {
@@ -123,5 +123,15 @@ export function main() {
             .flush('hello world');
       });
     });
+    describe('makes a request for an error response', () => {
+      it('with a JSON body', (done: DoneFn) => {
+        client.get('/test').subscribe(() => {}, (res: HttpErrorResponse) => {
+          expect(res.error.data).toEqual('hello world');
+          done();
+        });
+        backend.expectOne('/test').flush(
+            {'data': 'hello world'}, {status: 500, statusText: 'Server error'});
+      });
+    });
   });
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/packages/common/http/testing/src/request.ts b/packages/common/http/testing/src/request.ts
index 4bd68a1edd..796f661f1e 100644
--- a/packages/common/http/testing/src/request.ts
+++ b/packages/common/http/testing/src/request.ts
@@ -61,12 +61,11 @@ export class TestRequest {
     if (statusText === undefined) {
       throw new Error('statusText is required when setting a custom status.');
     }
-    const res = {body, headers, status, statusText, url};
     if (status >= 200 && status < 300) {
-      this.observer.next(new HttpResponse<any>(res));
+      this.observer.next(new HttpResponse<any>({body, headers, status, statusText, url}));
       this.observer.complete();
     } else {
-      this.observer.error(new HttpErrorResponse(res));
+      this.observer.error(new HttpErrorResponse({error: body, headers, status, statusText, url}));
     }
   }