diff --git a/lib/XMLHttpRequest.js b/lib/XMLHttpRequest.js
index 949fdf9..1358173 100644
--- a/lib/XMLHttpRequest.js
+++ b/lib/XMLHttpRequest.js
@@ -509,11 +509,12 @@ exports.XMLHttpRequest = function() {
    * Called when an error is encountered to deal with it.
    */
   this.handleError = function(error) {
-    this.status = 503;
+    this.status = 0;
     this.statusText = error;
     this.responseText = error.stack;
     errorFlag = true;
     setState(this.DONE);
+    this.dispatchEvent('error');
   };
 
   /**
@@ -526,6 +527,7 @@ exports.XMLHttpRequest = function() {
     }
 
     headers = defaultHeaders;
+    this.status = 0;
     this.responseText = "";
     this.responseXML = "";
 
@@ -538,6 +540,7 @@ exports.XMLHttpRequest = function() {
       setState(this.DONE);
     }
     this.readyState = this.UNSENT;
+    this.dispatchEvent('abort');
   };
 
   /**