diff --git a/cometd-nodejs-client.js b/cometd-nodejs-client.js
index 56743ee..40f9582 100644
--- a/cometd-nodejs-client.js
+++ b/cometd-nodejs-client.js
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ module.exports = {
                 ['abort', 'aborted', 'error'].forEach(function(event) {
                     _request.on(event, function(x) {
                         self.readyState = window.XMLHttpRequest.DONE;
+                        var error = x.message;
+                        if (error) {
+                            self.statusText = error;
+                        }
                         if (self.onerror) {
                             self.onerror(x);
                         }