diff --git a/src/http-api/resources/files.js b/src/http-api/resources/files.js
index 38e755fd11..b5309b6de6 100644
--- a/src/http-api/resources/files.js
+++ b/src/http-api/resources/files.js
@@ -94,9 +94,12 @@ exports.get = {
           if (err) return handleError(err)
 
           pack.finalize()
-          reply(pack).header('X-Stream-Output', '1')
         })
       )
+
+      // the reply must read the tar stream,
+      // to pull values through
+      reply(pack).header('X-Stream-Output', '1')
     })
 
     function handleError (err) {