diff --git a/lib/_http_client.js b/lib/_http_client.js
index f8239feb071320..593f301b0e543d 100644
--- a/lib/_http_client.js
+++ b/lib/_http_client.js
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function ClientRequest(options, cb) {
   if (typeof options === 'string') {
     options = url.parse(options);
   } else {
-    options = util._extend({}, options);
+    options = Object.create(options || {});
   }
 
   var agent = options.agent;