diff --git a/src/client/response.rs b/src/client/response.rs
index 0f997dcda..392c91332 100644
--- a/src/client/response.rs
+++ b/src/client/response.rs
@@ -71,24 +71,12 @@ impl ClientResponse {
         self.as_ref().version
     }
 
-    /// Get a mutable reference to the headers.
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn headers_mut(&mut self) -> &mut HeaderMap {
-        &mut self.as_mut().headers
-    }
-
     /// Get the status from the server.
     #[inline]
     pub fn status(&self) -> StatusCode {
         self.as_ref().status
     }
 
-    /// Set the `StatusCode` for this response.
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn set_status(&mut self, status: StatusCode) {
-        self.as_mut().status = status
-    }
-
     /// Load request cookies.
     pub fn cookies(&self) -> Result<&Vec<Cookie<'static>>, CookieParseError> {
         if self.as_ref().cookies.is_none() {
diff --git a/src/payload.rs b/src/payload.rs
index 4fb80b0bc..3c0f41532 100644
--- a/src/payload.rs
+++ b/src/payload.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ use futures::{Async, Poll, Stream};
 
 use error::PayloadError;
 
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub(crate) enum PayloadStatus {
+    Read,
+    Pause,
+    Dropped,
+}
+
 /// Buffered stream of bytes chunks
 ///
 /// Payload stores chunks in a vector. First chunk can be received with `.readany()` method.
@@ -100,7 +107,7 @@ pub(crate) trait PayloadWriter {
     fn feed_data(&mut self, data: Bytes);
 
     /// Need read data
-    fn need_read(&self) -> bool;
+    fn need_read(&self) -> PayloadStatus;
 }
 
 /// Sender part of the payload stream
@@ -129,11 +136,17 @@ impl PayloadWriter for PayloadSender {
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    fn need_read(&self) -> bool {
+    fn need_read(&self) -> PayloadStatus {
+        // we check need_read only if Payload (other side) is alive,
+        // otherwise always return true (consume payload)
         if let Some(shared) = self.inner.upgrade() {
-            shared.borrow().need_read
+            if shared.borrow().need_read {
+                PayloadStatus::Read
+            } else {
+                PayloadStatus::Pause
+            }
         } else {
-            false
+            PayloadStatus::Dropped
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/server/encoding.rs b/src/server/encoding.rs
index 694d63a1d..5e0ac7b0f 100644
--- a/src/server/encoding.rs
+++ b/src/server/encoding.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use body::{Body, Binary};
 use error::PayloadError;
 use httprequest::HttpInnerMessage;
 use httpresponse::HttpResponse;
-use payload::{PayloadSender, PayloadWriter};
+use payload::{PayloadSender, PayloadWriter, PayloadStatus};
 
 use super::shared::SharedBytes;
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ impl PayloadWriter for PayloadType {
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    fn need_read(&self) -> bool {
+    fn need_read(&self) -> PayloadStatus {
         match *self {
             PayloadType::Sender(ref sender) => sender.need_read(),
             PayloadType::Encoding(ref enc) => enc.need_read(),
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ impl PayloadWriter for EncodedPayload {
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    fn need_read(&self) -> bool {
+    fn need_read(&self) -> PayloadStatus {
         self.inner.need_read()
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/server/h1.rs b/src/server/h1.rs
index 8fb3a9e97..11c0bb2d4 100644
--- a/src/server/h1.rs
+++ b/src/server/h1.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use pipeline::Pipeline;
 use httpcodes::HTTPNotFound;
 use httprequest::HttpRequest;
 use error::{ParseError, PayloadError, ResponseError};
-use payload::{Payload, PayloadWriter};
+use payload::{Payload, PayloadWriter, PayloadStatus};
 
 use super::{utils, Writer};
 use super::h1writer::H1Writer;
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ impl<T, H> Http1<T, H>
             true
         };
 
-        let retry = self.reader.need_read();
+        let retry = self.reader.need_read() == PayloadStatus::Read;
 
         loop {
             // check in-flight messages
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ impl<T, H> Http1<T, H>
                         },
                         // no more IO for this iteration
                         Ok(Async::NotReady) => {
-                            if self.reader.need_read() && !retry {
+                            if self.reader.need_read() == PayloadStatus::Read && !retry {
                                 return Ok(Async::Ready(true));
                             }
                             io = true;
@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@ struct PayloadInfo {
 enum ReaderError {
     Disconnect,
     Payload,
+    PayloadDropped,
     Error(ParseError),
 }
 
@@ -352,11 +353,11 @@ impl Reader {
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    fn need_read(&self) -> bool {
+    fn need_read(&self) -> PayloadStatus {
         if let Some(ref info) = self.payload {
             info.tx.need_read()
         } else {
-            true
+            PayloadStatus::Read
         }
     }
     
@@ -392,8 +393,10 @@ impl Reader {
                        settings: &WorkerSettings<H>) -> Poll<HttpRequest, ReaderError>
         where T: IoStream
     {
-        if !self.need_read() {
-            return Ok(Async::NotReady)
+        match self.need_read() {
+            PayloadStatus::Read => (),
+            PayloadStatus::Pause => return Ok(Async::NotReady),
+            PayloadStatus::Dropped => return Err(ReaderError::PayloadDropped),
         }
 
         // read payload
diff --git a/src/server/h2.rs b/src/server/h2.rs
index 97974c88e..ed75c97f3 100644
--- a/src/server/h2.rs
+++ b/src/server/h2.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use error::PayloadError;
 use httpcodes::HTTPNotFound;
 use httpmessage::HttpMessage;
 use httprequest::HttpRequest;
-use payload::{Payload, PayloadWriter};
+use payload::{Payload, PayloadWriter, PayloadStatus};
 
 use super::h2writer::H2Writer;
 use super::encoding::PayloadType;
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ impl<T, H> Http2<T, H>
                     item.poll_payload();
 
                     if !item.flags.contains(EntryFlags::EOF) {
-                        let retry = item.payload.need_read();
+                        let retry = item.payload.need_read() == PayloadStatus::Read;
                         loop {
                             match item.task.poll_io(&mut item.stream) {
                                 Ok(Async::Ready(ready)) => {
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ impl<T, H> Http2<T, H>
                                     not_ready = false;
                                 },
                                 Ok(Async::NotReady) => {
-                                    if item.payload.need_read() && !retry {
+                                    if item.payload.need_read() == PayloadStatus::Read && !retry
+                                    {
                                         continue
                                     }
                                 },
@@ -307,7 +308,7 @@ impl Entry {
 
     fn poll_payload(&mut self) {
         if !self.flags.contains(EntryFlags::REOF) {
-            if self.payload.need_read() {
+            if self.payload.need_read() == PayloadStatus::Read {
                 if let Err(err) = self.recv.release_capacity().release_capacity(32_768) {
                     self.payload.set_error(PayloadError::Http2(err))
                 }