diff --git a/lib/internal/process/stdio.js b/lib/internal/process/stdio.js
index 75ede6a8e7e157..9a16a5ab15f166 100644
--- a/lib/internal/process/stdio.js
+++ b/lib/internal/process/stdio.js
@@ -77,13 +77,15 @@ function setupStdio() {
           stdin = new net.Socket({
             handle: process.channel,
             readable: true,
-            writable: false
+            writable: false,
+            manualStart: true
           });
         } else {
           stdin = new net.Socket({
             fd: fd,
             readable: true,
-            writable: false
+            writable: false,
+            manualStart: true
           });
         }
         // Make sure the stdin can't be `.end()`-ed