diff --git a/lib/client.js b/lib/client.js
index 6460d6b7c..33d033a6e 100644
--- a/lib/client.js
+++ b/lib/client.js
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ function isHost(obj) {
 
 request.getXHR = function () {
   if (root.XMLHttpRequest
-    && ('file:' != root.location.protocol || !root.ActiveXObject)) {
+      && (!root.location || 'file:' != root.location.protocol
+          || !root.ActiveXObject)) {
     return new XMLHttpRequest;
   } else {
     try { return new ActiveXObject('Microsoft.XMLHTTP'); } catch(e) {}