diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cea44c1..e475566 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ xhr.respond(200, {"Content-Type": "application/json"}, '{"key":"value"}');
 xhr.status; // 200
 xhr.statusText; // "OK"
 xhr.responseText; // '{"key":"value"}'
+xhr.response; // { key: "value" } (parsed JSON object)
 
 // simulate failed response
 xhr = new FakeXMLHttpRequest();
@@ -48,4 +49,4 @@ karma start
 
 In order to have a more open and welcoming community this project adheres to a [code of conduct](CONDUCT.md) adapted from the [contributor covenant](http://contributor-covenant.org/).
 
-Please adhere to this code of conduct in any interactions you have with this project's community. If you encounter someone violating these terms, please let a maintainer (@trek) know and we will address it as soon as possible.
\ No newline at end of file
+Please adhere to this code of conduct in any interactions you have with this project's community. If you encounter someone violating these terms, please let a maintainer (@trek) know and we will address it as soon as possible.
diff --git a/fake_xml_http_request.js b/fake_xml_http_request.js
index 86b15d2..2fb09c8 100644
--- a/fake_xml_http_request.js
+++ b/fake_xml_http_request.js
@@ -447,6 +447,12 @@
         } catch (e) {
           // Unable to parse XML - no biggie
         }
+      } else if (this.responseText && /(application\/json)|(application\/vnd\.api\+json)/.test(type)) {
+        try {
+          this.response = JSON.parse(this.responseText);
+        } catch (e) {
+          if (!(e instanceof SyntaxError)) throw e;
+        }
       }
 
       if (this.async) {
diff --git a/src/fake-xml-http-request.js b/src/fake-xml-http-request.js
index ae46d77..85fdfb7 100644
--- a/src/fake-xml-http-request.js
+++ b/src/fake-xml-http-request.js
@@ -441,6 +441,12 @@ var FakeXMLHttpRequestProto = {
       } catch (e) {
         // Unable to parse XML - no biggie
       }
+    } else if (this.responseText && /(application\/json)|(application\/vnd\.api\+json)/.test(type)) {
+      try {
+        this.response = JSON.parse(this.responseText);
+      } catch (e) {
+        if (!(e instanceof SyntaxError)) throw e;
+      }
     }
 
     if (this.async) {
diff --git a/test/responding_test.js b/test/responding_test.js
index 6db50c2..34696fe 100644
--- a/test/responding_test.js
+++ b/test/responding_test.js
@@ -61,6 +61,17 @@ test("does not parse the body if it's XML and another content type is set", func
   equal(xhr.responseXML, undefined);
 });
 
+test("parses the body if it's JSON and the json content type is set", function(){
+  const body = { key: 'value' };
+  xhr.respond(200, {'Content-Type':'application/json'}, JSON.stringify(body));
+  deepEqual(xhr.response, body);
+});
+
+test("does not parse the JSON body when another content type is set", function() {
+  xhr.respond(200, {'Content-Type':'application/xml'}, '{"a":"key"}');
+  equal(xhr.response, undefined);
+});
+
 test("calls the onload callback once", function(){
   var wasCalled = 0;