diff --git a/lib/restler.js b/lib/restler.js
index bf6cc57..019c7db 100644
--- a/lib/restler.js
+++ b/lib/restler.js
@@ -368,12 +368,15 @@ var parsers = {
   },
   json: function(data, callback) {
     if (data && data.length) {
+      var err;
       try {
-        callback(null, JSON.parse(data));
-      } catch (err) {
+        data = JSON.parse(data);
+        err = null;
+      } catch (caughtErr) {
+        err = caughtErr;
         err.message = 'Failed to parse JSON body: ' + err.message;
-        callback(err, null);
       }
+      callback(err, data);
     } else {
       callback(null, null);
     }