diff --git a/checkers/http.go b/checkers/http.go
index 6391291..43298a9 100644
--- a/checkers/http.go
+++ b/checkers/http.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ func (h *HTTP) Status() (interface{}, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
 
 	// Check if StatusCode matches
 	if resp.StatusCode != h.Config.StatusCode {
@@ -81,7 +82,6 @@ func (h *HTTP) Status() (interface{}, error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Unable to read response body to perform content expectancy check: %v", err)
 		}
-		defer resp.Body.Close()
 
 		if !strings.Contains(string(data), h.Config.Expect) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Received response body '%v' does not contain expected content '%v'",
diff --git a/checkers/http_test.go b/checkers/http_test.go
index d00c9d4..ff5b2a4 100644
--- a/checkers/http_test.go
+++ b/checkers/http_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"fmt"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
 )
 
@@ -254,6 +255,50 @@ func TestHTTPStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("Should return error if response body is not readable", func(t *testing.T) {
+		httpClient := &http.Client{
+			Transport: newTransport(),
+		}
+
+		ts := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+			w.Write([]byte("foo"))
+		}))
+		defer ts.Close()
+
+		testURL, err := url.Parse(ts.URL)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+
+		cfg := &HTTPConfig{
+			URL:    testURL,
+			Expect: "foo",
+			Client: httpClient,
+		}
 
+		checker, err := NewHTTP(cfg)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+
+		data, err := checker.Status()
+
+		Expect(err).To(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(err.Error()).To(ContainSubstring("Unable to read response body to perform content expectancy check"))
+		Expect(data).To(BeNil())
 	})
 }
+
+type CustomTransport struct{}
+
+func newTransport() *CustomTransport {
+	return &CustomTransport{}
+}
+
+func (c *CustomTransport) RoundTrip(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+	return &http.Response{
+		StatusCode: http.StatusOK,
+		Body:       &mockReader{},
+	}, nil
+}
+
+type mockReader struct{}
+
+func (m *mockReader) Read(p []byte) (n int, err error) { return 0, fmt.Errorf("foo") }
+func (m *mockReader) Close() error                     { return nil }
diff --git a/health.go b/health.go
index 0275d41..30f7481 100644
--- a/health.go
+++ b/health.go
@@ -312,7 +312,15 @@ func (h *Health) safeUpdateState(stateEntry *State) {
 func (h *Health) safeGetStates() map[string]State {
 	h.statesLock.Lock()
 	defer h.statesLock.Unlock()
-	return h.states
+
+	// deep copy h.states to avoid race
+	statesCopy := make(map[string]State, 0)
+
+	for k, v := range h.states {
+		statesCopy[k] = v
+	}
+
+	return statesCopy
 }
 
 // if a status listener is attached
diff --git a/health_test.go b/health_test.go
index 71a9fa7..036c830 100644
--- a/health_test.go
+++ b/health_test.go
@@ -376,7 +376,6 @@ func TestStop(t *testing.T) {
 			// 3rd and 4th message should indicate goroutine exit
 			msgs := testLogger.Bytes()
 			Expect(msgs).To(ContainSubstring("Stopping checker name=" + cfg.Name))
-
 			Expect(msgs).To(ContainSubstring("Checker exiting name=" + cfg.Name))
 		}