diff --git a/client.go b/client.go
index 676a30a..cce9db2 100644
--- a/client.go
+++ b/client.go
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ func (c *HostClient) do(req *Request, resp *Response, newConn bool) (bool, error
 	}
 	c.releaseReader(br)
 
-	if req.Header.ConnectionClose || resp.Header.ConnectionClose {
+	if req.Header.ConnectionClose() || resp.Header.ConnectionClose() {
 		c.closeConn(cc)
 	} else {
 		c.releaseConn(cc)
diff --git a/header.go b/header.go
index e93bb67..c891cef 100644
--- a/header.go
+++ b/header.go
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@ type ResponseHeader struct {
 	// Response status code.
 	StatusCode int
 
-	// Set to true if response contains 'Connection: close' header.
-	ConnectionClose bool
+	connectionClose bool
 
 	contentLength      int
 	contentLengthBytes []byte
@@ -38,8 +37,7 @@ type ResponseHeader struct {
 // It is forbidden copying RequestHeader instances.
 // Create new instances instead and use CopyTo.
 type RequestHeader struct {
-	// Set to true if request contains 'Connection: close' header.
-	ConnectionClose bool
+	connectionClose bool
 
 	contentLength      int
 	contentLengthBytes []byte
@@ -57,6 +55,26 @@ type RequestHeader struct {
 	cookiesCollected bool
 }
 
+// ConnectionClose returns true if 'Connection: close' header is set.
+func (h *ResponseHeader) ConnectionClose() bool {
+	return h.connectionClose
+}
+
+// SetConnectionClose sets 'Connection: close' header.
+func (h *ResponseHeader) SetConnectionClose() {
+	h.connectionClose = true
+}
+
+// ConnectionClose returns true if 'Connection: close' header is set.
+func (h *RequestHeader) ConnectionClose() bool {
+	return h.connectionClose
+}
+
+// SetConnectionClose sets 'Connection: close' header.
+func (h *RequestHeader) SetConnectionClose() {
+	h.connectionClose = true
+}
+
 // ContentLength returns Content-Length header value.
 //
 // It may be negative:
@@ -80,6 +98,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) SetContentLength(contentLength int) {
 		h.contentLengthBytes = h.contentLengthBytes[:0]
 		value := strChunked
 		if contentLength == -2 {
+			h.SetConnectionClose()
 			value = strIdentity
 		}
 		h.h = setArg(h.h, strTransferEncoding, value)
@@ -272,7 +291,7 @@ func (h *RequestHeader) Len() int {
 // Clear clears response header.
 func (h *ResponseHeader) Clear() {
 	h.StatusCode = 0
-	h.ConnectionClose = false
+	h.connectionClose = false
 
 	h.contentLength = 0
 	h.contentLengthBytes = h.contentLengthBytes[:0]
@@ -286,7 +305,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) Clear() {
 
 // Clear clears request header.
 func (h *RequestHeader) Clear() {
-	h.ConnectionClose = false
+	h.connectionClose = false
 
 	h.contentLength = 0
 	h.contentLengthBytes = h.contentLengthBytes[:0]
@@ -306,7 +325,7 @@ func (h *RequestHeader) Clear() {
 func (h *ResponseHeader) CopyTo(dst *ResponseHeader) {
 	dst.Clear()
 	dst.StatusCode = h.StatusCode
-	dst.ConnectionClose = h.ConnectionClose
+	dst.connectionClose = h.connectionClose
 	dst.contentLength = h.contentLength
 	dst.contentLengthBytes = append(dst.contentLengthBytes[:0], h.contentLengthBytes...)
 	dst.contentType = append(dst.contentType[:0], h.contentType...)
@@ -318,7 +337,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) CopyTo(dst *ResponseHeader) {
 // CopyTo copies all the headers to dst.
 func (h *RequestHeader) CopyTo(dst *RequestHeader) {
 	dst.Clear()
-	dst.ConnectionClose = h.ConnectionClose
+	dst.connectionClose = h.connectionClose
 	dst.contentLength = h.contentLength
 	dst.contentLengthBytes = append(dst.contentLengthBytes[:0], h.contentLengthBytes...)
 	dst.method = append(dst.method[:0], h.method...)
@@ -353,7 +372,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) VisitAll(f func(key, value []byte)) {
 		})
 	}
 	visitArgs(h.h, f)
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		f(strConnection, strClose)
 	}
 }
@@ -404,7 +423,7 @@ func (h *RequestHeader) VisitAll(f func(key, value []byte)) {
 		f(strCookie, h.bufKV.value)
 	}
 	visitArgs(h.h, f)
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		f(strConnection, strClose)
 	}
 }
@@ -488,7 +507,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) SetCanonical(key, value []byte) {
 		}
 	case bytes.Equal(strConnection, key):
 		if bytes.Equal(strClose, value) {
-			h.ConnectionClose = true
+			h.SetConnectionClose()
 		}
 		// skip other 'Connection' shit :)
 	case bytes.Equal(strTransferEncoding, key):
@@ -583,7 +602,7 @@ func (h *RequestHeader) SetCanonical(key, value []byte) {
 		}
 	case bytes.Equal(strConnection, key):
 		if bytes.Equal(strClose, value) {
-			h.ConnectionClose = true
+			h.SetConnectionClose()
 		}
 		// skip other 'Connection' shit :)
 	case bytes.Equal(strTransferEncoding, key):
@@ -640,7 +659,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) peek(key []byte) []byte {
 	case bytes.Equal(strServer, key):
 		return h.Server()
 	case bytes.Equal(strConnection, key):
-		if h.ConnectionClose {
+		if h.ConnectionClose() {
 			return strClose
 		}
 		return nil
@@ -660,7 +679,7 @@ func (h *RequestHeader) peek(key []byte) []byte {
 	case bytes.Equal(strUserAgent, key):
 		return h.UserAgent()
 	case bytes.Equal(strConnection, key):
-		if h.ConnectionClose {
+		if h.ConnectionClose() {
 			return strClose
 		}
 		return nil
@@ -833,7 +852,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) Write(w *bufio.Writer) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		writeHeaderLine(w, strConnection, strClose)
 	}
 
@@ -889,7 +908,7 @@ func (h *RequestHeader) Write(w *bufio.Writer) error {
 		writeHeaderLine(w, strCookie, h.bufKV.value)
 	}
 
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		writeHeaderLine(w, strConnection, strClose)
 	}
 
@@ -935,7 +954,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) parseFirstLine(buf []byte) (b []byte, err error) {
 	}
 	if !bytes.Equal(b[:n], strHTTP11) {
 		// Non-http/1.1 response. Close connection after it.
-		h.ConnectionClose = true
+		h.SetConnectionClose()
 	}
 	b = b[n+1:]
 
@@ -971,13 +990,13 @@ func (h *RequestHeader) parseFirstLine(buf []byte) (b []byte, err error) {
 	n = bytes.LastIndexByte(b, ' ')
 	if n < 0 {
 		// no http protocol found. Close connection after the request.
-		h.ConnectionClose = true
+		h.SetConnectionClose()
 		n = len(b)
 	} else if n == 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("RequestURI cannot be empty in %q", buf)
 	} else if !bytes.Equal(b[n+1:], strHTTP11) {
 		// non-http/1.1 protocol. Close connection after the request.
-		h.ConnectionClose = true
+		h.SetConnectionClose()
 	}
 	h.SetRequestURIBytes(b[:n])
 
@@ -1017,7 +1036,7 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) parseHeaders(buf []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 			}
 		case bytes.Equal(s.key, strConnection):
 			if bytes.Equal(s.value, strClose) {
-				h.ConnectionClose = true
+				h.SetConnectionClose()
 			}
 		case bytes.Equal(s.key, strSetCookie):
 			h.cookies, kv = allocArg(h.cookies)
@@ -1037,8 +1056,6 @@ func (h *ResponseHeader) parseHeaders(buf []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing required Content-Type header in %q", buf)
 	}
 	if contentLength == -2 {
-		// Close connection after 'identity' response.
-		h.ConnectionClose = true
 		h.SetContentLength(contentLength)
 	}
 	return s.b, nil
@@ -1078,7 +1095,7 @@ func (h *RequestHeader) parseHeaders(buf []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 			}
 		case bytes.Equal(s.key, strConnection):
 			if bytes.Equal(s.value, strClose) {
-				h.ConnectionClose = true
+				h.SetConnectionClose()
 			}
 		default:
 			h.h, kv = allocArg(h.h)
diff --git a/header_test.go b/header_test.go
index 4045511..2d81ee8 100644
--- a/header_test.go
+++ b/header_test.go
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ func testResponseHeaderHTTPVer(t *testing.T, s string, connectionClose bool) {
 	if err := h.Read(br); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %s. response=%q", err, s)
 	}
-	if h.ConnectionClose != connectionClose {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected connectionClose %v. Expecting %v. response=%q", h.ConnectionClose, connectionClose, s)
+	if h.ConnectionClose() != connectionClose {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected connectionClose %v. Expecting %v. response=%q", h.ConnectionClose(), connectionClose, s)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ func testRequestHeaderHTTPVer(t *testing.T, s string, connectionClose bool) {
 	if err := h.Read(br); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %s. request=%q", err, s)
 	}
-	if h.ConnectionClose != connectionClose {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected connectionClose %v. Expecting %v. request=%q", h.ConnectionClose, connectionClose, s)
+	if h.ConnectionClose() != connectionClose {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected connectionClose %v. Expecting %v. request=%q", h.ConnectionClose(), connectionClose, s)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func TestRequestHeaderConnectionClose(t *testing.T) {
 
 	h.Set("Connection", "close")
 	h.Set("Host", "foobar")
-	if !h.ConnectionClose {
+	if !h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("connection: close not set")
 	}
 
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ func TestRequestHeaderConnectionClose(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("error when reading request header: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	if !h1.ConnectionClose {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close value: %v", h1.ConnectionClose)
+	if !h1.ConnectionClose() {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close value: %v", h1.ConnectionClose())
 	}
 	if string(h1.Peek("Connection")) != "close" {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection value: %q. Expecting %q", h.Peek("Connection"), "close")
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ func TestRequestHeaderSetGet(t *testing.T) {
 	expectRequestHeaderGet(t, h, "baz", "xxxxx")
 	expectRequestHeaderGet(t, h, "Transfer-Encoding", "")
 	expectRequestHeaderGet(t, h, "connecTION", "close")
-	if !h.ConnectionClose {
+	if !h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("unset connection: close")
 	}
 
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ func TestRequestHeaderSetGet(t *testing.T) {
 	expectRequestHeaderGet(t, &h1, "baz", "xxxxx")
 	expectRequestHeaderGet(t, &h1, "Transfer-Encoding", "")
 	expectRequestHeaderGet(t, &h1, "Connection", "close")
-	if !h1.ConnectionClose {
+	if !h1.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("unset connection: close")
 	}
 }
@@ -570,8 +570,8 @@ func TestResponseHeaderSetGet(t *testing.T) {
 	if h.ContentLength() != 1234 {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected content-length %d. Expected %d", h.ContentLength(), 1234)
 	}
-	if !h.ConnectionClose {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected Connection: close value %v. Expected %v", h.ConnectionClose, true)
+	if !h.ConnectionClose() {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected Connection: close value %v. Expected %v", h.ConnectionClose(), true)
 	}
 
 	w := &bytes.Buffer{}
@@ -593,8 +593,8 @@ func TestResponseHeaderSetGet(t *testing.T) {
 	if h1.ContentLength() != h.ContentLength() {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected Content-Length %d. Expected %d", h1.ContentLength(), h.ContentLength())
 	}
-	if h1.ConnectionClose != h.ConnectionClose {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close %v. Expected %v", h1.ConnectionClose, h.ConnectionClose)
+	if h1.ConnectionClose() != h.ConnectionClose() {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close %v. Expected %v", h1.ConnectionClose(), h.ConnectionClose())
 	}
 
 	expectResponseHeaderGet(t, &h1, "Foo", "bar")
@@ -622,8 +622,9 @@ func TestResponseHeaderConnectionClose(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func testResponseHeaderConnectionClose(t *testing.T, connectionClose bool) {
-	h := &ResponseHeader{
-		ConnectionClose: connectionClose,
+	h := &ResponseHeader{}
+	if connectionClose {
+		h.SetConnectionClose()
 	}
 	h.SetContentLength(123)
 
@@ -643,8 +644,8 @@ func testResponseHeaderConnectionClose(t *testing.T, connectionClose bool) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error when reading response header: %s", err)
 	}
-	if h1.ConnectionClose != h.ConnectionClose {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected value for ConnectionClose: %v. Expected %v", h1.ConnectionClose, h.ConnectionClose)
+	if h1.ConnectionClose() != h.ConnectionClose() {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected value for ConnectionClose: %v. Expected %v", h1.ConnectionClose(), h.ConnectionClose())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -731,21 +732,21 @@ func TestResponseHeaderReadSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	// straight order of content-length and content-type
 	testResponseHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\nContent-Length: 123\r\nContent-Type: text/html\r\n\r\n",
 		200, 123, "text/html", "")
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close")
 	}
 
 	// reverse order of content-length and content-type
 	testResponseHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "HTTP/1.1 202 OK\r\nContent-Type: text/plain; encoding=utf-8\r\nContent-Length: 543\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n",
 		202, 543, "text/plain; encoding=utf-8", "")
-	if !h.ConnectionClose {
+	if !h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("expecting connection: close")
 	}
 
 	// tranfer-encoding: chunked
 	testResponseHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "HTTP/1.1 505 Internal error\r\nContent-Type: text/html\r\nTransfer-Encoding: chunked\r\n\r\n",
 		505, -1, "text/html", "")
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close")
 	}
 
@@ -807,14 +808,14 @@ func TestResponseHeaderReadSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	// blank lines before the first line
 	testResponseHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "\r\nHTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\nContent-Type: aa\r\nContent-Length: 0\r\n\r\nsss",
 		200, 0, "aa", "sss")
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close")
 	}
 
 	// no content-length (identity transfer-encoding)
 	testResponseHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\nContent-Type: foo/bar\r\n\r\nabcdefg",
 		200, -2, "foo/bar", "abcdefg")
-	if !h.ConnectionClose {
+	if !h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("expecting connection: close for identity response")
 	}
 }
@@ -825,28 +826,28 @@ func TestRequestHeaderReadSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 	// simple headers
 	testRequestHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "GET /foo/bar HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: google.com\r\n\r\n",
 		0, "/foo/bar", "google.com", "", "", "")
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close header")
 	}
 
 	// simple headers with body
 	testRequestHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "GET /a/bar HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: gole.com\r\nconneCTION: close\r\n\r\nfoobar",
 		0, "/a/bar", "gole.com", "", "", "foobar")
-	if !h.ConnectionClose {
+	if !h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("connection: close unset")
 	}
 
 	// ancient http protocol
 	testRequestHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "GET /bar HTTP/1.0\r\nHost: gole\r\n\r\npppp",
 		0, "/bar", "gole", "", "", "pppp")
-	if !h.ConnectionClose {
+	if !h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("expecting connectionClose for ancient http protocol")
 	}
 
 	// complex headers with body
 	testRequestHeaderReadSuccess(t, h, "GET /aabar HTTP/1.1\r\nAAA: bbb\r\nHost: ole.com\r\nAA: bb\r\n\r\nzzz",
 		0, "/aabar", "ole.com", "", "", "zzz")
-	if h.ConnectionClose {
+	if h.ConnectionClose() {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected connection: close")
 	}
 
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index 26f7392..bed6cc4 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -261,6 +261,12 @@ var zeroTCPAddr = &net.TCPAddr{
 	IP: net.IPv4zero,
 }
 
+// SetConnectionClose sets 'Connection: close' response header and closes
+// connection after the RequestHandler returns.
+func (ctx *RequestCtx) SetConnectionClose() {
+	ctx.Request.Header.SetConnectionClose()
+}
+
 // RequestURI returns RequestURI.
 //
 // This uri is valid until returning from RequestHandler.
@@ -673,7 +679,7 @@ func (s *Server) serveConn(c net.Conn) error {
 		if err = writeResponse(ctx, bw); err != nil {
 			break
 		}
-		connectionClose = ctx.Request.Header.ConnectionClose || ctx.Response.Header.ConnectionClose
+		connectionClose = ctx.Request.Header.ConnectionClose() || ctx.Response.Header.ConnectionClose()
 
 		if br == nil || connectionClose {
 			err = bw.Flush()
diff --git a/server_test.go b/server_test.go
index ec5a0d8..c4c4f88 100644
--- a/server_test.go
+++ b/server_test.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func TestServerTimeoutError(t *testing.T) {
 func TestServerConnectionClose(t *testing.T) {
 	s := &Server{
 		Handler: func(ctx *RequestCtx) {
-			ctx.Response.Header.ConnectionClose = true
+			ctx.SetConnectionClose()
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/server_timing_test.go b/server_timing_test.go
index a3cfc07..98142fe 100644
--- a/server_timing_test.go
+++ b/server_timing_test.go
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func benchmarkServerGet(b *testing.B, clientsCount, requestsPerConn int) {
 			}
 			ctx.Success("text/plain", fakeResponse)
 			if requestsPerConn == 1 {
-				ctx.Response.Header.ConnectionClose = true
+				ctx.SetConnectionClose()
 			}
 			registerServedRequest(b, ch)
 		},
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ func benchmarkServerPost(b *testing.B, clientsCount, requestsPerConn int) {
 			}
 			ctx.Success("text/plain", body)
 			if requestsPerConn == 1 {
-				ctx.Response.Header.ConnectionClose = true
+				ctx.SetConnectionClose()
 			}
 			registerServedRequest(b, ch)
 		},