diff --git a/doc/api/stream.markdown b/doc/api/stream.markdown
index 2f399a77aa..bdd709f7e2 100644
--- a/doc/api/stream.markdown
+++ b/doc/api/stream.markdown
@@ -310,6 +310,24 @@ readable.on('data', function(chunk) {
 })
 ```
 
+#### readable.isPaused()
+
+* Return: `Boolean`
+
+This method returns whether or not the `readable` has been **explicitly**
+paused by client code (using `readable.pause()` without a corresponding
+`readable.resume()`).
+
+```javascript
+var readable = new stream.Readable
+
+readable.isPaused() // === false
+readable.pause()
+readable.isPaused() // === true
+readable.resume()
+readable.isPaused() // === false
+```
+
 #### readable.pipe(destination, [options])
 
 * `destination` {[Writable][] Stream} The destination for writing data
diff --git a/lib/_stream_readable.js b/lib/_stream_readable.js
index b1b89392a5..c691137374 100644
--- a/lib/_stream_readable.js
+++ b/lib/_stream_readable.js
@@ -131,6 +131,10 @@ Readable.prototype.unshift = function(chunk) {
   return readableAddChunk(this, state, chunk, '', true);
 };
 
+Readable.prototype.isPaused = function() {
+  return this._readableState.flowing === false;
+};
+
 function readableAddChunk(stream, state, chunk, encoding, addToFront) {
   var er = chunkInvalid(state, chunk);
   if (er) {
diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index c653c814b7..5746b1c55c 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -970,7 +970,7 @@ function afterConnect(status, handle, req, readable, writable) {
 
     // start the first read, or get an immediate EOF.
     // this doesn't actually consume any bytes, because len=0.
-    if (readable)
+    if (readable && !self.isPaused())
       self.read(0);
 
   } else {
diff --git a/test/simple/test-net-connect-paused-connection.js b/test/simple/test-net-connect-paused-connection.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c38f51e36e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/simple/test-net-connect-paused-connection.js
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// 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 assert = require('assert');
+var common = require('../common');
+
+var net = require('net');
+
+net.createServer(function(conn) {
+  conn.unref();
+}).listen(8124).unref();
+
+net.connect(8124, 'localhost').pause();
+
+setTimeout(function() {
+  assert.fail('expected to exit');
+}, 1000).unref();
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream-ispaused.js b/test/simple/test-stream-ispaused.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..91f4f512f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream-ispaused.js
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// 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 assert = require('assert');
+var common = require('../common');
+
+var stream = require('stream');
+
+var readable = new stream.Readable;
+
+// _read is a noop, here.
+readable._read = Function();
+
+// default state of a stream is not "paused"
+assert.ok(!readable.isPaused());
+
+// make the stream start flowing...
+readable.on('data', Function());
+
+// still not paused.
+assert.ok(!readable.isPaused());
+
+readable.pause();
+assert.ok(readable.isPaused());
+readable.resume();
+assert.ok(!readable.isPaused());