diff -r 5dc02b23752f -r 3e2da88830cd src/network/access/qnetworkaccesshttpbackend.cpp
--- a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccesshttpbackend.cpp	Tue Jul 06 15:10:48 2010 +0300
+++ b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccesshttpbackend.cpp	Wed Aug 18 10:37:55 2010 +0300
@@ -944,10 +944,10 @@
 
     checkForRedirect(status);
 
-    emit metaDataChanged();
-
-    // invoke this asynchronously, else Arora/QtDemoBrowser don't like cached downloads
-    // see task 250221 / 251801
+    // This needs to be emitted in the event loop because it can be reached at
+    // the direct code path of qnam.get(...) before the user has a chance
+    // to connect any signals.
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "metaDataChanged", Qt::QueuedConnection);
     qRegisterMetaType<QIODevice*>("QIODevice*");
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "writeDownstreamData", Qt::QueuedConnection, Q_ARG(QIODevice*, contents));