diff --git a/lib/eventsource.js b/lib/eventsource.js
index db66ea75..8dfaf843 100644
--- a/lib/eventsource.js
+++ b/lib/eventsource.js
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ function EventSource (url, eventSourceInitDict) {
     if (readyState === EventSource.CLOSED) {
       return
     }
-    var errorEvent = error ? new Event('error', error) : new Event('end')
+    var errorEvent = error ? new Event('error', error) : new Event('end', {message: 'the request completed unexpectedly'})
     var shouldRetry = (config.errorFilter || defaultErrorFilter)(errorEvent)
     if (shouldRetry) {
       readyState = EventSource.CONNECTING