diff --git a/AFNetworking/AFImageRequestOperation.m b/AFNetworking/AFImageRequestOperation.m
index 08bf4e2..1150b76 100644
--- a/AFNetworking/AFImageRequestOperation.m
+++ b/AFNetworking/AFImageRequestOperation.m
@@ -158,8 +158,9 @@ static dispatch_queue_t image_request_operation_processing_queue() {
 #if __IPHONE_OS_VERSION_MIN_REQUIRED
 - (UIImage *)responseImage {
     if (!_responseImage && [self isFinished]) {
-        CGImageRef imageRef = [[UIImage imageWithData:self.responseData] CGImage];
-        self.responseImage = [UIImage imageWithCGImage:imageRef scale:self.imageScale orientation:UIImageOrientationUp];
+        UIImage *image = [UIImage imageWithData:self.responseData];
+        
+        self.responseImage = [UIImage imageWithCGImage:[image CGImage] scale:self.imageScale orientation:image.imageOrientation];
     }
     
     return _responseImage;