Ajax error - Request Terminated Abnormally, state change not set

If a user changes the moderation state on a node, submits the form before the the state setting completes (drop down is still gray), an Ajax "request terminated abnormally" error appears briefly, the user is taken to the "view draft" screen, but the state change has not occurred.

I've attached a screenshot of the ajax error. Is this the expected behavior? Is there any way to prevent the node form submission until the ajax request has completed and the state has been set?

Thanks for your help!