diff --git a/lib/protocol/http1/connection.rb b/lib/protocol/http1/connection.rb
index 8745041..9ccffaa 100644
--- a/lib/protocol/http1/connection.rb
+++ b/lib/protocol/http1/connection.rb
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def read_line
 				read_line? or raise EOFError
 			end
 			
-			def read_request
+			def read_request_preface
 				return unless line = read_line?
 				
 				if match = line.match(REQUEST_LINE)
@@ -182,6 +182,13 @@ def read_request
 					raise InvalidRequest, line.inspect
 				end
 				
+				return method, path, version
+			end
+			
+			def read_request
+				method, path, version = read_request_preface
+				return unless method
+				
 				headers = read_headers
 				
 				@persistent = persistent?(version, method, headers)
@@ -193,11 +200,17 @@ def read_request
 				return headers.delete(HOST), method, path, version, headers, body
 			end
 			
-			def read_response(method)
+			def read_response_preface
 				version, status, reason = read_line.split(/\s+/, 3)
 				
 				status = Integer(status)
 				
+				return version, status, reason
+			end
+			
+			def read_response(method)
+				version, status, reason = read_response_preface
+				
 				headers = read_headers
 				
 				@persistent = persistent?(version, method, headers)