diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index 7e3f4abcd7d841..22c16f0572bb65 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -103,20 +103,18 @@ function getFlags(ipv6Only) {
   return ipv6Only === true ? TCPConstants.UV_TCP_IPV6ONLY : 0;
 }
 
-function createHandle(fd, is_server, buf) {
+function createHandle(fd, is_server) {
   validateInt32(fd, 'fd', 0);
   const type = TTYWrap.guessHandleType(fd);
   if (type === 'PIPE') {
     return new Pipe(
-      is_server ? PipeConstants.SERVER : PipeConstants.SOCKET,
-      buf
+      is_server ? PipeConstants.SERVER : PipeConstants.SOCKET
     );
   }
 
   if (type === 'TCP') {
     return new TCP(
-      is_server ? TCPConstants.SERVER : TCPConstants.SOCKET,
-      buf
+      is_server ? TCPConstants.SERVER : TCPConstants.SOCKET
     );
   }
 
@@ -223,6 +221,10 @@ function initSocketHandle(self) {
     self._handle[owner_symbol] = self;
     self._handle.onread = onStreamRead;
     self[async_id_symbol] = getNewAsyncId(self._handle);
+
+    if (self[kBuffer]) {
+      self._handle.useUserBuffer(self[kBuffer]);
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -904,8 +906,8 @@ Socket.prototype.connect = function(...args) {
 
   if (!this._handle) {
     this._handle = pipe ?
-      new Pipe(PipeConstants.SOCKET, this[kBuffer]) :
-      new TCP(TCPConstants.SOCKET, this[kBuffer]);
+      new Pipe(PipeConstants.SOCKET) :
+      new TCP(TCPConstants.SOCKET);
     initSocketHandle(this);
   }
 
diff --git a/src/connection_wrap.cc b/src/connection_wrap.cc
index ef626a65d68ce2..db239f9becdb53 100644
--- a/src/connection_wrap.cc
+++ b/src/connection_wrap.cc
@@ -29,17 +29,6 @@ ConnectionWrap<WrapType, UVType>::ConnectionWrap(Environment* env,
                       reinterpret_cast<uv_stream_t*>(&handle_),
                       provider) {}
 
-template <typename WrapType, typename UVType>
-ConnectionWrap<WrapType, UVType>::ConnectionWrap(Environment* env,
-                                                 Local<Object> object,
-                                                 ProviderType provider,
-                                                 uv_buf_t buf)
-    : LibuvStreamWrap(env,
-                      object,
-                      reinterpret_cast<uv_stream_t*>(&handle_),
-                      provider,
-                      buf) {}
-
 
 template <typename WrapType, typename UVType>
 void ConnectionWrap<WrapType, UVType>::OnConnection(uv_stream_t* handle,
@@ -127,23 +116,11 @@ template ConnectionWrap<PipeWrap, uv_pipe_t>::ConnectionWrap(
     Local<Object> object,
     ProviderType provider);
 
-template ConnectionWrap<PipeWrap, uv_pipe_t>::ConnectionWrap(
-    Environment* env,
-    Local<Object> object,
-    ProviderType provider,
-    uv_buf_t buf);
-
 template ConnectionWrap<TCPWrap, uv_tcp_t>::ConnectionWrap(
     Environment* env,
     Local<Object> object,
     ProviderType provider);
 
-template ConnectionWrap<TCPWrap, uv_tcp_t>::ConnectionWrap(
-    Environment* env,
-    Local<Object> object,
-    ProviderType provider,
-    uv_buf_t buf);
-
 template void ConnectionWrap<PipeWrap, uv_pipe_t>::OnConnection(
     uv_stream_t* handle, int status);
 
diff --git a/src/connection_wrap.h b/src/connection_wrap.h
index 399b7b45721652..5b114088760dad 100644
--- a/src/connection_wrap.h
+++ b/src/connection_wrap.h
@@ -19,10 +19,6 @@ class ConnectionWrap : public LibuvStreamWrap {
   ConnectionWrap(Environment* env,
                  v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
                  ProviderType provider);
-  ConnectionWrap(Environment* env,
-                 v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
-                 ProviderType provider,
-                 uv_buf_t buf);
 
   UVType handle_;
 };
diff --git a/src/pipe_wrap.cc b/src/pipe_wrap.cc
index 30c37aff1a79d5..6259cbdd1918dd 100644
--- a/src/pipe_wrap.cc
+++ b/src/pipe_wrap.cc
@@ -149,14 +149,7 @@ void PipeWrap::New(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
       UNREACHABLE();
   }
 
-  if (args.Length() > 1 && Buffer::HasInstance(args[1])) {
-    uv_buf_t buf;
-    buf.base = Buffer::Data(args[1]);
-    buf.len = Buffer::Length(args[1]);
-    new PipeWrap(env, args.This(), provider, ipc, buf);
-  } else {
-    new PipeWrap(env, args.This(), provider, ipc);
-  }
+  new PipeWrap(env, args.This(), provider, ipc);
 }
 
 
@@ -170,17 +163,6 @@ PipeWrap::PipeWrap(Environment* env,
                    // Suggestion: uv_pipe_init() returns void.
 }
 
-PipeWrap::PipeWrap(Environment* env,
-                   Local<Object> object,
-                   ProviderType provider,
-                   bool ipc,
-                   uv_buf_t buf)
-    : ConnectionWrap(env, object, provider, buf) {
-  int r = uv_pipe_init(env->event_loop(), &handle_, ipc);
-  CHECK_EQ(r, 0);  // How do we proxy this error up to javascript?
-                   // Suggestion: uv_pipe_init() returns void.
-}
-
 
 void PipeWrap::Bind(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
   PipeWrap* wrap;
diff --git a/src/pipe_wrap.h b/src/pipe_wrap.h
index 139dbdc3bac42c..b98d850439f0f4 100644
--- a/src/pipe_wrap.h
+++ b/src/pipe_wrap.h
@@ -55,11 +55,6 @@ class PipeWrap : public ConnectionWrap<PipeWrap, uv_pipe_t> {
            v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
            ProviderType provider,
            bool ipc);
-  PipeWrap(Environment* env,
-           v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
-           ProviderType provider,
-           bool ipc,
-           uv_buf_t buf);
 
   static void New(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
   static void Bind(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
diff --git a/src/stream_base-inl.h b/src/stream_base-inl.h
index 4abd28af9d17ad..af5027320d0502 100644
--- a/src/stream_base-inl.h
+++ b/src/stream_base-inl.h
@@ -150,14 +150,6 @@ inline void StreamResource::EmitWantsWrite(size_t suggested_size) {
 }
 
 inline StreamBase::StreamBase(Environment* env) : env_(env) {
-  buf_.base = nullptr;
-  buf_.len = 0;
-  PushStreamListener(&default_listener_);
-}
-
-inline StreamBase::StreamBase(Environment* env, uv_buf_t buf)
-    : env_(env),
-      buf_(buf) {
   PushStreamListener(&default_listener_);
 }
 
@@ -165,10 +157,6 @@ inline Environment* StreamBase::stream_env() const {
   return env_;
 }
 
-inline uv_buf_t StreamBase::stream_buf() const {
-  return buf_;
-}
-
 inline int StreamBase::Shutdown(v8::Local<v8::Object> req_wrap_obj) {
   Environment* env = stream_env();
 
@@ -338,6 +326,9 @@ void StreamBase::AddMethods(Environment* env, Local<FunctionTemplate> t) {
   env->SetProtoMethod(t, "readStart", JSMethod<Base, &StreamBase::ReadStartJS>);
   env->SetProtoMethod(t, "readStop", JSMethod<Base, &StreamBase::ReadStopJS>);
   env->SetProtoMethod(t, "shutdown", JSMethod<Base, &StreamBase::Shutdown>);
+  env->SetProtoMethod(t,
+                      "useUserBuffer",
+                      JSMethod<Base, &StreamBase::UseUserBuffer>);
   env->SetProtoMethod(t, "writev", JSMethod<Base, &StreamBase::Writev>);
   env->SetProtoMethod(t,
                       "writeBuffer",
diff --git a/src/stream_base.cc b/src/stream_base.cc
index cbf362f6870e5f..d081ac1479be88 100644
--- a/src/stream_base.cc
+++ b/src/stream_base.cc
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ int StreamBase::ReadStopJS(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
   return ReadStop();
 }
 
+int StreamBase::UseUserBuffer(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
+  CHECK(Buffer::HasInstance(args[0]));
+
+  uv_buf_t buf = uv_buf_init(Buffer::Data(args[0]), Buffer::Length(args[0]));
+  PushStreamListener(new CustomBufferJSListener(buf));
+  return 0;
+}
 
 int StreamBase::Shutdown(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
   CHECK(args[0]->IsObject());
@@ -295,7 +302,7 @@ void StreamBase::CallJSOnreadMethod(ssize_t nread,
   DCHECK_EQ(static_cast<int32_t>(nread), nread);
   DCHECK_LE(offset, INT32_MAX);
 
-  if (ab.IsEmpty() && buf_.base == nullptr) {
+  if (ab.IsEmpty()) {
     DCHECK_EQ(offset, 0);
     DCHECK_LE(nread, 0);
   } else {
@@ -347,12 +354,7 @@ void StreamResource::ClearError() {
 
 
 uv_buf_t StreamListener::OnStreamAlloc(size_t suggested_size) {
-  StreamBase* stream = static_cast<StreamBase*>(stream_);
-  const uv_buf_t stream_buf = stream->stream_buf();
-  if (stream_buf.base != nullptr)
-    return stream_buf;
-  else
-    return uv_buf_init(Malloc(suggested_size), suggested_size);
+  return uv_buf_init(Malloc(suggested_size), suggested_size);
 }
 
 
@@ -362,32 +364,44 @@ void EmitToJSStreamListener::OnStreamRead(ssize_t nread, const uv_buf_t& buf) {
   Environment* env = stream->stream_env();
   HandleScope handle_scope(env->isolate());
   Context::Scope context_scope(env->context());
-  const uv_buf_t stream_buf = stream->stream_buf();
-  Local<ArrayBuffer> obj;
 
   if (nread <= 0)  {
-    if (stream_buf.base == nullptr)
-      free(buf.base);
-    if (nread == 0)
-      return;
-  } else if (stream_buf.base != nullptr) {
-    CHECK_LE(static_cast<size_t>(nread), stream_buf.len);
-  } else {
-    CHECK_LE(static_cast<size_t>(nread), buf.len);
+    free(buf.base);
+    if (nread < 0)
+      stream->CallJSOnreadMethod(nread, Local<ArrayBuffer>());
+    return;
+  }
 
-    char* base = Realloc(buf.base, nread);
+  CHECK_LE(static_cast<size_t>(nread), buf.len);
+  char* base = Realloc(buf.base, nread);
 
-    obj = ArrayBuffer::New(
-        env->isolate(),
-        base,
-        nread,
-        // Transfer ownership to V8.
-        v8::ArrayBufferCreationMode::kInternalized);
-  }
+  Local<ArrayBuffer> obj = ArrayBuffer::New(
+      env->isolate(),
+      base,
+      nread,
+      v8::ArrayBufferCreationMode::kInternalized);  // Transfer ownership to V8.
   stream->CallJSOnreadMethod(nread, obj);
 }
 
 
+uv_buf_t CustomBufferJSListener::OnStreamAlloc(size_t suggested_size) {
+  return buffer_;
+}
+
+
+void CustomBufferJSListener::OnStreamRead(ssize_t nread, const uv_buf_t& buf) {
+  CHECK_NOT_NULL(stream_);
+  CHECK_EQ(buf.base, buffer_.base);
+
+  StreamBase* stream = static_cast<StreamBase*>(stream_);
+  Environment* env = stream->stream_env();
+  HandleScope handle_scope(env->isolate());
+  Context::Scope context_scope(env->context());
+
+  stream->CallJSOnreadMethod(nread, Local<ArrayBuffer>());
+}
+
+
 void ReportWritesToJSStreamListener::OnStreamAfterReqFinished(
     StreamReq* req_wrap, int status) {
   StreamBase* stream = static_cast<StreamBase*>(stream_);
diff --git a/src/stream_base.h b/src/stream_base.h
index a96751381beae0..07c70cf51c89a3 100644
--- a/src/stream_base.h
+++ b/src/stream_base.h
@@ -185,6 +185,21 @@ class EmitToJSStreamListener : public ReportWritesToJSStreamListener {
 };
 
 
+// An alternative listener that uses a custom, user-provided buffer
+// for reading data.
+class CustomBufferJSListener : public ReportWritesToJSStreamListener {
+ public:
+  uv_buf_t OnStreamAlloc(size_t suggested_size) override;
+  void OnStreamRead(ssize_t nread, const uv_buf_t& buf) override;
+  void OnStreamDestroy() override { delete this; }
+
+  explicit CustomBufferJSListener(uv_buf_t buffer) : buffer_(buffer) {}
+
+ private:
+  uv_buf_t buffer_;
+};
+
+
 // A generic stream, comparable to JS land’s `Duplex` streams.
 // A stream is always controlled through one `StreamListener` instance.
 class StreamResource {
@@ -271,7 +286,6 @@ class StreamBase : public StreamResource {
   // This is named `stream_env` to avoid name clashes, because a lot of
   // subclasses are also `BaseObject`s.
   Environment* stream_env() const;
-  uv_buf_t stream_buf() const;
 
   // Shut down the current stream. This request can use an existing
   // ShutdownWrap object (that was created in JS), or a new one will be created.
@@ -302,7 +316,6 @@ class StreamBase : public StreamResource {
 
  protected:
   explicit StreamBase(Environment* env);
-  explicit StreamBase(Environment* env, uv_buf_t buf);
 
   // JS Methods
   int ReadStartJS(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
@@ -312,6 +325,7 @@ class StreamBase : public StreamResource {
   int WriteBuffer(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
   template <enum encoding enc>
   int WriteString(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
+  int UseUserBuffer(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
 
   template <class Base>
   static void GetFD(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
@@ -341,7 +355,6 @@ class StreamBase : public StreamResource {
 
  private:
   Environment* env_;
-  uv_buf_t buf_;
   EmitToJSStreamListener default_listener_;
 
   void SetWriteResult(const StreamWriteResult& res);
diff --git a/src/stream_wrap.cc b/src/stream_wrap.cc
index ca66815a300480..ae54b019fea034 100644
--- a/src/stream_wrap.cc
+++ b/src/stream_wrap.cc
@@ -106,19 +106,6 @@ LibuvStreamWrap::LibuvStreamWrap(Environment* env,
       stream_(stream) {
 }
 
-LibuvStreamWrap::LibuvStreamWrap(Environment* env,
-                                 Local<Object> object,
-                                 uv_stream_t* stream,
-                                 AsyncWrap::ProviderType provider,
-                                 uv_buf_t buf)
-    : HandleWrap(env,
-                 object,
-                 reinterpret_cast<uv_handle_t*>(stream),
-                 provider),
-      StreamBase(env, buf),
-      stream_(stream) {
-}
-
 
 Local<FunctionTemplate> LibuvStreamWrap::GetConstructorTemplate(
     Environment* env) {
diff --git a/src/stream_wrap.h b/src/stream_wrap.h
index 638072639d263f..19366ff4fba2c4 100644
--- a/src/stream_wrap.h
+++ b/src/stream_wrap.h
@@ -84,11 +84,6 @@ class LibuvStreamWrap : public HandleWrap, public StreamBase {
                   v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
                   uv_stream_t* stream,
                   AsyncWrap::ProviderType provider);
-  LibuvStreamWrap(Environment* env,
-                  v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
-                  uv_stream_t* stream,
-                  AsyncWrap::ProviderType provider,
-                  uv_buf_t buf);
 
   AsyncWrap* GetAsyncWrap() override;
 
diff --git a/src/tcp_wrap.cc b/src/tcp_wrap.cc
index 8712ac2ef5ce17..dac621ec879e5c 100644
--- a/src/tcp_wrap.cc
+++ b/src/tcp_wrap.cc
@@ -158,14 +158,7 @@ void TCPWrap::New(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
       UNREACHABLE();
   }
 
-  if (args.Length() > 1 && Buffer::HasInstance(args[1])) {
-    uv_buf_t buf;
-    buf.base = Buffer::Data(args[1]);
-    buf.len = Buffer::Length(args[1]);
-    new TCPWrap(env, args.This(), provider, buf);
-  } else {
-    new TCPWrap(env, args.This(), provider);
-  }
+  new TCPWrap(env, args.This(), provider);
 }
 
 
@@ -176,14 +169,6 @@ TCPWrap::TCPWrap(Environment* env, Local<Object> object, ProviderType provider)
                    // Suggestion: uv_tcp_init() returns void.
 }
 
-TCPWrap::TCPWrap(Environment* env, Local<Object> object, ProviderType provider,
-                 uv_buf_t buf)
-    : ConnectionWrap(env, object, provider, buf) {
-  int r = uv_tcp_init(env->event_loop(), &handle_);
-  CHECK_EQ(r, 0);  // How do we proxy this error up to javascript?
-                   // Suggestion: uv_tcp_init() returns void.
-}
-
 
 void TCPWrap::SetNoDelay(const FunctionCallbackInfo<Value>& args) {
   TCPWrap* wrap;
diff --git a/src/tcp_wrap.h b/src/tcp_wrap.h
index 3fc626d49857a7..db269f65281639 100644
--- a/src/tcp_wrap.h
+++ b/src/tcp_wrap.h
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ class TCPWrap : public ConnectionWrap<TCPWrap, uv_tcp_t> {
 
   TCPWrap(Environment* env, v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
           ProviderType provider);
-  TCPWrap(Environment* env, v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
-          ProviderType provider, uv_buf_t buf);
 
   static void New(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);
   static void SetNoDelay(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value>& args);