diff --git a/lib/adapters/xhr.js b/lib/adapters/xhr.js
index 479bdbc..8c790c1 100644
--- a/lib/adapters/xhr.js
+++ b/lib/adapters/xhr.js
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ module.exports = function xhrAdapter(resolve, reject, config) {
     request = new window.XDomainRequest();
     loadEvent = 'onload';
     xDomain = true;
+    request.onprogress = function handleProgress() {};
+    request.ontimeout = function handleTimeout() {};
   }
 
   // HTTP basic authentication
@@ -41,10 +43,6 @@ module.exports = function xhrAdapter(resolve, reject, config) {
   // Set the request timeout in MS
   request.timeout = config.timeout;
 
-  // For IE 9 CORS support.
-  request.onprogress = function handleProgress() {};
-  request.ontimeout = function handleTimeout() {};
-
   // Listen for ready state
   request[loadEvent] = function handleLoad() {
     if (!request || (request.readyState !== 4 && !xDomain)) {