var timer; function handleRequest(request, response) { response.setHeader("Cache-Control", "no-cache", false); response.setHeader("Content-Type", "text/plain", false); response.write("Responded"); response.processAsync(); timer = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/timer;1"] .createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsITimer); timer.initWithCallback(function() { response.finish(); // 50ms certainly be enough for one refresh driver firing to happen! }, 50, Components.interfaces.nsITimer.TYPE_ONE_SHOT); }