diff --git a/lib/_stream_writable.js b/lib/_stream_writable.js
index 9a5e7f02f8..b8f88be270 100644
--- a/lib/_stream_writable.js
+++ b/lib/_stream_writable.js
@@ -111,6 +111,11 @@ function Writable(options) {
   Stream.call(this);
 }
 
+// Otherwise people can pipe Writable streams, which is just wrong.
+Writable.prototype.pipe = function() {
+  this.emit('error', new Error('Cannot pipe. Not readable.'));
+};
+
 // Override this method or _write(chunk, cb)
 Writable.prototype.write = function(chunk, encoding, cb) {
   var state = this._writableState;
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-writable.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-writable.js
index 4cd37fd822..efd49021bb 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-writable.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-writable.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 var common = require('../common.js');
 var W = require('_stream_writable');
+var D = require('_stream_duplex');
 var assert = require('assert');
 
 var util = require('util');
@@ -285,3 +286,28 @@ test('encoding should be ignored for buffers', function(t) {
   var buf = new Buffer(hex, 'hex');
   tw.write(buf, 'binary');
 });
+
+test('writables are not pipable', function(t) {
+  var w = new W();
+  w._write = function() {};
+  var gotError = false;
+  w.on('error', function(er) {
+    gotError = true;
+  });
+  w.pipe(process.stdout);
+  assert(gotError);
+  t.end();
+});
+
+test('duplexes are pipable', function(t) {
+  var d = new D();
+  d._read = function() {};
+  d._write = function() {};
+  var gotError = false;
+  d.on('error', function(er) {
+    gotError = true;
+  });
+  d.pipe(process.stdout);
+  assert(!gotError);
+  t.end();
+});