diff --git a/src/unix/process.c b/src/unix/process.c
index 9842710d..d6c23c44 100644
--- a/src/unix/process.c
+++ b/src/unix/process.c
@@ -243,8 +243,12 @@ static int uv__process_open_stream(uv_stdio_container_t* container,
     flags = UV_STREAM_READABLE | UV_STREAM_WRITABLE;
   else if (writable)
     flags = UV_STREAM_WRITABLE;
-  else
+  else {
     flags = UV_STREAM_READABLE;
+    if (container->flags & UV_WRITABLE_PIPE)
+      flags |= UV_STREAM_WRITABLE;
+  }
+