diff --git a/lib/_stream_duplex.js b/lib/_stream_duplex.js
index ef74c34c7e..c5a741c466 100644
--- a/lib/_stream_duplex.js
+++ b/lib/_stream_duplex.js
@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ function Duplex(options) {
   Readable.call(this, options);
   Writable.call(this, options);
 
+  if (options && options.readable === false)
+    this.readable = false;
+
+  if (options && options.writable === false)
+    this.writable = false;
+
   this.allowHalfOpen = true;
   if (options && options.allowHalfOpen === false)
     this.allowHalfOpen = false;
diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index 89cb0d7275..41e28195ae 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -137,17 +137,17 @@ function Socket(options) {
   }
 
   stream.Duplex.call(this, options);
-  this.readable = this.writable = false;
 
   if (options.handle) {
     this._handle = options.handle; // private
-  } else if (typeof options.fd === 'undefined') {
-    this._handle = options && options.handle; // private
-  } else {
+  } else if (typeof options.fd !== 'undefined') {
     this._handle = createPipe();
     this._handle.open(options.fd);
     this.readable = options.readable !== false;
     this.writable = options.writable !== false;
+  } else {
+    // these will be set once there is a connection
+    this.readable = this.writable = false;
   }
 
   this.onend = null;
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stdio-readable-writable.js b/test/simple/test-stdio-readable-writable.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5123f96887
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/simple/test-stdio-readable-writable.js
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+// Copyright Joyent, Inc. and other Node contributors.
+//
+// Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
+// copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
+// "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including
+// without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish,
+// distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit
+// persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the
+// following conditions:
+//
+// The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
+// in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+//
+// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
+// OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
+// MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN
+// NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM,
+// DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR
+// OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE
+// USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+
+var common = require('../common');
+var assert = require('assert');
+
+assert(process.stdout.writable);
+assert(!process.stdout.readable);
+
+assert(process.stderr.writable);
+assert(!process.stderr.readable);
+
+assert(!process.stdin.writable);
+assert(process.stdin.readable);