diff --git a/request/request.js b/request/request.js
index 07f4a454..3feedf15 100644
--- a/request/request.js
+++ b/request/request.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ module.exports = function($window) {
 	
 	function xhr(args) {
 		var stream = Stream.stream()
+		if (args.initialValue !== undefined) stream(args.initialValue)
 		
 		var useBody = typeof args.useBody === "boolean" ? args.useBody : args.method !== "GET" && args.method !== "TRACE"
 		
diff --git a/request/tests/test-xhr.js b/request/tests/test-xhr.js
index 14f3ba0f..830a5625 100644
--- a/request/tests/test-xhr.js
+++ b/request/tests/test-xhr.js
@@ -241,6 +241,16 @@ o.spec("xhr", function() {
 				o(typeof xhr.send).equals("function")
 			}
 		})
+		o("initialValue parameter works", function() {
+			mock.$defineRoutes({
+				"GET /items": function() {
+					return {status: 200, responseText: JSON.stringify([{a: 1}])}
+				}
+			})
+			var items = xhr({method: "GET", url: "/items", initialValue: []})
+			
+			o(items()).deepEquals([])
+		})
 	})
 	o.spec("failure", function() {
 		o("rejects on server error", function(done) {