diff --git a/src/ng/httpBackend.js b/src/ng/httpBackend.js
index 371082090994..99da6549ac08 100644
--- a/src/ng/httpBackend.js
+++ b/src/ng/httpBackend.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ function createHttpBackend($browser, XHR, $browserDefer, callbacks, rawDocument,
         xhr.responseType = responseType;
       }
 
-      xhr.send(post || '');
+      xhr.send(post || null);
     }
 
     if (timeout > 0) {
diff --git a/test/ng/httpBackendSpec.js b/test/ng/httpBackendSpec.js
index f82c175098c1..5d2654a9d7d7 100644
--- a/test/ng/httpBackendSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/httpBackendSpec.js
@@ -68,6 +68,12 @@ describe('$httpBackend', function() {
     expect(xhr.$$async).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it('should pass null to send if no body is set', function() {
+    $backend('GET', '/some-url', null, noop);
+    xhr = MockXhr.$$lastInstance;
+
+    expect(xhr.$$data).toBe(null);
+  });
 
   it('should normalize IE\'s 1223 status code into 204', function() {
     callback.andCallFake(function(status) {