diff --git a/includes/common.inc b/includes/common.inc
index 40a7919..38aff66 100644
--- a/includes/common.inc
+++ b/includes/common.inc
@@ -990,7 +990,16 @@ function drupal_http_request($url, array $options = array()) {
   $response = preg_split("/\r\n|\n|\r/", $response);
 
   // Parse the response status line.
-  list($protocol, $code, $status_message) = explode(' ', trim(array_shift($response)), 3);
+  list($protocol, $code_status_message) = explode(' ', trim(array_shift($response)), 2);
+
+  // Check if the status message exists.
+  if (strpos($code_status_message, ' ') === FALSE) {
+    $code = $code_status_message;
+    $status_message = '';
+  }
+  else {
+    list($code, $status_message) = explode(' ', $code_status_message, 2);
+  }
   $result->protocol = $protocol;
   $result->status_message = $status_message;
 
diff --git a/modules/simpletest/tests/common.test b/modules/simpletest/tests/common.test
index 44eecdc..b784b28 100644
--- a/modules/simpletest/tests/common.test
+++ b/modules/simpletest/tests/common.test
@@ -1063,6 +1063,9 @@ class DrupalHTTPRequestTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
 
     $multiple_redirect_3 = drupal_http_request(url('system-test/multiple-redirects/3', array('absolute' => TRUE)), array('max_redirects' => 3));
     $this->assertEqual($multiple_redirect_3->redirect_url, $multiple_redirect_final_url, 'redirect_url contains the final redirection location after 3 redirects.');
+
+    $no_reason = drupal_http_request(url('system-test/no-reason-phrase', array('absolute' => TRUE)));
+    $this->assertFalse($no_reason->status_message, 'Reason phrase is empty');
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/modules/simpletest/tests/system_test.module b/modules/simpletest/tests/system_test.module
index 8cb0e83..af57193 100644
--- a/modules/simpletest/tests/system_test.module
+++ b/modules/simpletest/tests/system_test.module
@@ -106,6 +106,13 @@ function system_test_menu() {
     'type' => MENU_CALLBACK,
   );
 
+  $items['system-test/no-reason-phrase'] = array(
+    'title' => 'Test response code without a reason',
+    'page callback' => 'system_test_no_reason',
+    'access callback' => TRUE,
+    'type' => MENU_CALLBACK,
+  );
+
   return $items;
 }
 
@@ -339,6 +346,14 @@ function system_test_page_shutdown_functions($arg1, $arg2) {
 }
 
 /**
+ * A page callback that omites the reason phrase.
+ */
+function system_test_no_reason() {
+  header('HTTP/1.1 999');
+  exit;
+}
+
+/**
  * Dummy shutdown function which registers another shutdown function.
  */
 function _system_test_first_shutdown_function($arg1, $arg2) {