diff --git a/lib/internal/process/stdio.js b/lib/internal/process/stdio.js
index 9a16a5ab15f166..ce84142938f066 100644
--- a/lib/internal/process/stdio.js
+++ b/lib/internal/process/stdio.js
@@ -109,15 +109,22 @@ function setupStdio() {
       stdin._handle.readStop();
     }
 
-    // if the user calls stdin.pause(), then we need to stop reading
-    // immediately, so that the process can close down.
+    // If the user calls stdin.pause(), then we need to stop reading
+    // once the stream implementation does so (one nextTick later),
+    // so that the process can close down.
     stdin.on('pause', () => {
+      process.nextTick(onpause);
+    });
+
+    function onpause() {
       if (!stdin._handle)
         return;
-      stdin._readableState.reading = false;
-      stdin._handle.reading = false;
-      stdin._handle.readStop();
-    });
+      if (stdin._handle.reading && !stdin._readableState.flowing) {
+        stdin._readableState.reading = false;
+        stdin._handle.reading = false;
+        stdin._handle.readStop();
+      }
+    }
 
     return stdin;
   }