diff --git a/lib/oauth.js b/lib/oauth.js
index 82b3cb03..af6c1fa5 100644
--- a/lib/oauth.js
+++ b/lib/oauth.js
@@ -375,13 +375,13 @@ exports.OAuth.prototype._performSecureRequest= function( oauth_token, oauth_toke
 
 
     var targetFile;
-    if(method == "GET" && useFile) {
-      targetFile = fs.createWriteStream(post_body);
-    }
-    else {
-      response.setEncoding('utf8');
-    }
     request.on('response', function (response) {
+      if(method == "GET" && response.statusCode == 200 && useFile) {
+        targetFile = fs.createWriteStream(post_body);
+      }
+      else {
+        response.setEncoding('utf8');
+      }
       response.on('data', function (chunk) {
           if(targetFile) {
             targetFile.write(chunk);