diff --git a/doc/ws.md b/doc/ws.md
index fc14e7e97..20facffbb 100644
--- a/doc/ws.md
+++ b/doc/ws.md
@@ -31,15 +31,18 @@
   - [websocket.bufferedAmount](#websocketbufferedamount)
   - [websocket.close([code[, reason]])](#websocketclosecode-reason)
   - [websocket.extensions](#websocketextensions)
+  - [websocket.isPaused](#websocketispaused)
   - [websocket.onclose](#websocketonclose)
   - [websocket.onerror](#websocketonerror)
   - [websocket.onmessage](#websocketonmessage)
   - [websocket.onopen](#websocketonopen)
+  - [websocket.pause()](#websocketpause)
   - [websocket.ping([data[, mask]][, callback])](#websocketpingdata-mask-callback)
   - [websocket.pong([data[, mask]][, callback])](#websocketpongdata-mask-callback)
   - [websocket.protocol](#websocketprotocol)
   - [websocket.readyState](#websocketreadystate)
   - [websocket.removeEventListener(type, listener)](#websocketremoveeventlistenertype-listener)
+  - [websocket.resume()](#websocketresume)
   - [websocket.send(data[, options][, callback])](#websocketsenddata-options-callback)
   - [websocket.terminate()](#websocketterminate)
   - [websocket.url](#websocketurl)
@@ -409,6 +412,12 @@ following ways:
 
 Initiate a closing handshake.
 
+### websocket.isPaused
+
+- {Boolean}
+
+Indicates whether the websocket is paused.
+
 ### websocket.extensions
 
 - {Object}
@@ -443,6 +452,12 @@ listener receives a `MessageEvent` named "message".
 An event listener to be called when the connection is established. The listener
 receives an `OpenEvent` named "open".
 
+### websocket.pause()
+
+Pause the websocket causing it to stop emitting events. Some events can still be
+emitted after this is called, until all buffered data is consumed. This method
+is a noop if the ready state is `CONNECTING` or `CLOSED`.
+
 ### websocket.ping([data[, mask]][, callback])
 
 - `data` {Array|Number|Object|String|ArrayBuffer|Buffer|DataView|TypedArray} The
@@ -473,6 +488,11 @@ Send a pong. This method throws an error if the ready state is `CONNECTING`.
 
 The subprotocol selected by the server.
 
+### websocket.resume()
+
+Make a paused socket resume emitting events. This method is a noop if the ready
+state is `CONNECTING` or `CLOSED`.
+
 ### websocket.readyState
 
 - {Number}
diff --git a/lib/stream.js b/lib/stream.js
index 9622a5ac6..230734b79 100644
--- a/lib/stream.js
+++ b/lib/stream.js
@@ -47,23 +47,8 @@ function duplexOnError(err) {
  * @public
  */
 function createWebSocketStream(ws, options) {
-  let resumeOnReceiverDrain = true;
   let terminateOnDestroy = true;
 
-  function receiverOnDrain() {
-    if (resumeOnReceiverDrain) ws._socket.resume();
-  }
-
-  if (ws.readyState === ws.CONNECTING) {
-    ws.once('open', function open() {
-      ws._receiver.removeAllListeners('drain');
-      ws._receiver.on('drain', receiverOnDrain);
-    });
-  } else {
-    ws._receiver.removeAllListeners('drain');
-    ws._receiver.on('drain', receiverOnDrain);
-  }
-
   const duplex = new Duplex({
     ...options,
     autoDestroy: false,
@@ -76,10 +61,7 @@ function createWebSocketStream(ws, options) {
     const data =
       !isBinary && duplex._readableState.objectMode ? msg.toString() : msg;
 
-    if (!duplex.push(data)) {
-      resumeOnReceiverDrain = false;
-      ws._socket.pause();
-    }
+    if (!duplex.push(data)) ws.pause();
   });
 
   ws.once('error', function error(err) {
@@ -155,13 +137,7 @@ function createWebSocketStream(ws, options) {
   };
 
   duplex._read = function () {
-    if (
-      (ws.readyState === ws.OPEN || ws.readyState === ws.CLOSING) &&
-      !resumeOnReceiverDrain
-    ) {
-      resumeOnReceiverDrain = true;
-      if (!ws._receiver._writableState.needDrain) ws._socket.resume();
-    }
+    if (ws.isPaused) ws.resume();
   };
 
   duplex._write = function (chunk, encoding, callback) {
diff --git a/lib/websocket.js b/lib/websocket.js
index 53aac9a57..130b3dc58 100644
--- a/lib/websocket.js
+++ b/lib/websocket.js
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ class WebSocket extends EventEmitter {
     this._closeMessage = EMPTY_BUFFER;
     this._closeTimer = null;
     this._extensions = {};
+    this._paused = false;
     this._protocol = '';
     this._readyState = WebSocket.CONNECTING;
     this._receiver = null;
@@ -124,6 +125,13 @@ class WebSocket extends EventEmitter {
     return Object.keys(this._extensions).join();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @type {Boolean}
+   */
+  get isPaused() {
+    return this._paused;
+  }
+
   /**
    * @type {Function}
    */
@@ -312,6 +320,23 @@ class WebSocket extends EventEmitter {
     );
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Pause the socket.
+   *
+   * @public
+   */
+  pause() {
+    if (
+      this.readyState === WebSocket.CONNECTING ||
+      this.readyState === WebSocket.CLOSED
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this._paused = true;
+    this._socket.pause();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Send a ping.
    *
@@ -376,6 +401,23 @@ class WebSocket extends EventEmitter {
     this._sender.pong(data || EMPTY_BUFFER, mask, cb);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Resume the socket.
+   *
+   * @public
+   */
+  resume() {
+    if (
+      this.readyState === WebSocket.CONNECTING ||
+      this.readyState === WebSocket.CLOSED
+    ) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this._paused = false;
+    if (!this._receiver._writableState.needDrain) this._socket.resume();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Send a data message.
    *
@@ -518,6 +560,7 @@ Object.defineProperty(WebSocket.prototype, 'CLOSED', {
   'binaryType',
   'bufferedAmount',
   'extensions',
+  'isPaused',
   'protocol',
   'readyState',
   'url'
@@ -1001,7 +1044,9 @@ function receiverOnConclude(code, reason) {
  * @private
  */
 function receiverOnDrain() {
-  this[kWebSocket]._socket.resume();
+  const websocket = this[kWebSocket];
+
+  if (!websocket.isPaused) websocket._socket.resume();
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/test/websocket.test.js b/test/websocket.test.js
index 4703debef..0d48887de 100644
--- a/test/websocket.test.js
+++ b/test/websocket.test.js
@@ -359,6 +359,39 @@ describe('WebSocket', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    describe('`isPaused`', () => {
+      it('is enumerable and configurable', () => {
+        const descriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(
+          WebSocket.prototype,
+          'isPaused'
+        );
+
+        assert.strictEqual(descriptor.configurable, true);
+        assert.strictEqual(descriptor.enumerable, true);
+        assert.ok(descriptor.get !== undefined);
+        assert.ok(descriptor.set === undefined);
+      });
+
+      it('indicates whether the websocket is paused', (done) => {
+        const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 0 }, () => {
+          const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://localhost:${wss.address().port}`);
+
+          ws.on('open', () => {
+            ws.pause();
+            assert.ok(ws.isPaused);
+
+            ws.resume();
+            assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+
+            ws.close();
+            wss.close(done);
+          });
+
+          assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+        });
+      });
+    });
+
     describe('`protocol`', () => {
       it('is enumerable and configurable', () => {
         const descriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(
@@ -1109,6 +1142,51 @@ describe('WebSocket', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('#pause', () => {
+    it('does nothing if `readyState` is `CONNECTING` or `CLOSED`', (done) => {
+      const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 0 }, () => {
+        const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://localhost:${wss.address().port}`);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(ws.readyState, WebSocket.CONNECTING);
+        assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+
+        ws.pause();
+        assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+
+        ws.on('open', () => {
+          ws.on('close', () => {
+            assert.strictEqual(ws.readyState, WebSocket.CLOSED);
+
+            ws.pause();
+            assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+
+            wss.close(done);
+          });
+
+          ws.close();
+        });
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('pauses the socket', (done) => {
+      const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 0 }, () => {
+        const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://localhost:${wss.address().port}`);
+      });
+
+      wss.on('connection', (ws) => {
+        assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+        assert.ok(!ws._socket.isPaused());
+
+        ws.pause();
+        assert.ok(ws.isPaused);
+        assert.ok(ws._socket.isPaused());
+
+        ws.terminate();
+        wss.close(done);
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('#ping', () => {
     it('throws an error if `readyState` is `CONNECTING`', () => {
       const ws = new WebSocket('ws://localhost', {
@@ -1447,6 +1525,58 @@ describe('WebSocket', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('#resume', () => {
+    it('does nothing if `readyState` is `CONNECTING` or `CLOSED`', (done) => {
+      const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 0 }, () => {
+        const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://localhost:${wss.address().port}`);
+
+        assert.strictEqual(ws.readyState, WebSocket.CONNECTING);
+        assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+
+        // Verify that no exception is thrown.
+        ws.resume();
+
+        ws.on('open', () => {
+          ws.pause();
+          assert.ok(ws.isPaused);
+
+          ws.on('close', () => {
+            assert.strictEqual(ws.readyState, WebSocket.CLOSED);
+
+            ws.resume();
+            assert.ok(ws.isPaused);
+
+            wss.close(done);
+          });
+
+          ws.terminate();
+        });
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('resumes the socket', (done) => {
+      const wss = new WebSocket.Server({ port: 0 }, () => {
+        const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://localhost:${wss.address().port}`);
+      });
+
+      wss.on('connection', (ws) => {
+        assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+        assert.ok(!ws._socket.isPaused());
+
+        ws.pause();
+        assert.ok(ws.isPaused);
+        assert.ok(ws._socket.isPaused());
+
+        ws.resume();
+        assert.ok(!ws.isPaused);
+        assert.ok(!ws._socket.isPaused());
+
+        ws.close();
+        wss.close(done);
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('#send', () => {
     it('throws an error if `readyState` is `CONNECTING`', () => {
       const ws = new WebSocket('ws://localhost', {