diff --git a/gunicorn/util.py b/gunicorn/util.py
index 147b9a19..311c87be 100644
--- a/gunicorn/util.py
+++ b/gunicorn/util.py
@@ -60,7 +60,17 @@ def write(sock, data):
                 break
             raise
         i += 1
-
+        
+def write_nonblock(sock, data):
+    timeout = sock.gettimeout()
+    if timeout != "0.0":
+        sock.setblockin(0)
+        ret = write(sock, data)
+        sock.setblocking(1)
+        return ret
+    else:
+        return write(sock, data)
+    
 def writelines(sock, lines):
     for line in list(lines):
         write(sock, line)
diff --git a/gunicorn/worker.py b/gunicorn/worker.py
index 9ac365aa..873e6af8 100644
--- a/gunicorn/worker.py
+++ b/gunicorn/worker.py
@@ -133,7 +133,14 @@ class Worker(object):
                 return 
             http.HttpResponse(client, response, req).send()
         except Exception, e:
-            self.log.exception("Error processing request. [%s]" % str(e))    
+            self.log.exception("Error processing request. [%s]" % str(e))
+            
+            # try to send a response even if something happend    
+            try:
+                write_nonblock(sock, 
+                    "HTTP/1.0 500 Internal Server Error\r\n\r\n")
+            except:
+                pass
         finally:    
             util.close(client)