diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Protocol.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Protocol.js
index e6a4ae6f4f..0d00449f66 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Protocol.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Protocol.js
@@ -231,10 +231,19 @@ OpenLayers.Protocol.Response = OpenLayers.Class({
     /**
      * Property: features
      * {Array({<OpenLayers.Feature.Vector>})} or {<OpenLayers.Feature.Vector>}
-     * The features returned in the response by the server.
+     * The features returned in the response by the server. Depending on the 
+     * protocol's read payload, either features or data will be populated.
      */
     features: null,
 
+    /**
+     * Property: data
+     * {Object}
+     * The data returned in the response by the server. Depending on the 
+     * protocol's read payload, either features or data will be populated.
+     */
+    data: null,
+
     /**
      * Property: reqFeatures
      * {Array({<OpenLayers.Feature.Vector>})} or {<OpenLayers.Feature.Vector>}