diff --git a/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_readable_read.rs b/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_readable_read.rs
index 2d7f261182..2b42e0dd7a 100644
--- a/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_readable_read.rs
+++ b/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_readable_read.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,13 @@ pub(super) fn read_stream_available_default(stream: f64) -> f64 {
         return f64::from_bits(TAG_NULL);
     }
 
-    if !readable_is_flowing(stream) {
+    // Node's `howMuchToRead(NaN)` (internal/streams/readable, v26): WITHOUT a
+    // string decoder, `read()` always returns just the head chunk — one buffer
+    // at a time — even when the stream is paused. Only a *decoded* (setEncoding)
+    // paused stream concatenates the entire buffer into a single string. So we
+    // drain the whole buffer here only when paused AND a decoder is active;
+    // otherwise fall through to the head-only path below.
+    if !readable_is_flowing(stream) && readable_encoding_tag(stream).is_some() {
         return drain_whole_buffer(stream, values);
     }
 
@@ -270,7 +276,11 @@ pub(super) fn read_stream_object_mode_chunk(stream: f64) -> f64 {
     sync_pending_readable_chunks_to_buffer(stream);
     if stream_hidden_ended(stream) && remaining == 0.0 {
         clear_pending_readable_chunks(stream);
-        queue_readable_event(stream);
+        // Node never emits a final `readable` just to hand the consumer a
+        // null at EOF: once `read()` returns the last buffered item from an
+        // ended stream it transitions straight to `end` (endReadable). A
+        // re-queued `readable` here makes a fixed-count consumer observe an
+        // extra `read() === null` pair. (internal/streams/readable, v26)
         schedule_readable_end(stream);
     }
     chunk
diff --git a/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_readwrite.rs b/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_readwrite.rs
index 4b9f77acdf..2ad1459fe3 100644
--- a/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_readwrite.rs
+++ b/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_readwrite.rs
@@ -461,6 +461,13 @@ pub(super) fn pipe_stream_to_destination(stream: f64, dest: f64, end_dest: bool)
     if !end_dest {
         add_pipe_no_end_destination(stream, dest);
     }
+    // A flowing destination (e.g. a piped-into PassThrough/Duplex) must consume
+    // each chunk from its own readable buffer when it emits 'data' live —
+    // otherwise the chunk lingers in the buffer and the destination's drain
+    // microtask re-emits it, duplicating every piped chunk. `pipeline()` already
+    // marks both ends; `pipe()` needs the same on the destination. (matches
+    // mark_live_pipe_consume_on_emit usage in node_stream_pipeline.rs)
+    mark_live_pipe_consume_on_emit(dest);
     install_pipe_destination_listeners(stream, dest);
     let _ = emit_stream_event(dest, string_value(b"pipe"), &[stream]);
     set_readable_flowing(stream, f64::from_bits(TAG_TRUE));
diff --git a/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_tests_extra.rs b/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_tests_extra.rs
index 30f634fbdf..76e49e3ca8 100644
--- a/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_tests_extra.rs
+++ b/crates/perry-runtime/src/node_stream_tests_extra.rs
@@ -467,8 +467,15 @@ fn readable_unshift_prepends_chunk_and_returns_hwm_signal() {
     );
     assert_eq!(js_node_stream_method_readable_length(handle), 11.0);
 
-    let joined = js_node_stream_method_read(handle, f64::from_bits(TAG_UNDEFINED));
-    assert_eq!(stream_test_buffer_bytes(joined), b"hello world");
+    // Node v26 `read()` with no size and no decoder returns the head chunk only
+    // — one buffer at a time — not the whole concatenated buffer. The unshifted
+    // chunk becomes the new head, so the first read yields "hello " and "world"
+    // remains for the next read. (internal/streams/readable, howMuchToRead(NaN))
+    let head = js_node_stream_method_read(handle, f64::from_bits(TAG_UNDEFINED));
+    assert_eq!(stream_test_buffer_bytes(head), b"hello ");
+    assert_eq!(js_node_stream_method_readable_length(handle), 5.0);
+    let tail = js_node_stream_method_read(handle, f64::from_bits(TAG_UNDEFINED));
+    assert_eq!(stream_test_buffer_bytes(tail), b"world");
     assert_eq!(js_node_stream_method_readable_length(handle), 0.0);
 
     let opts = crate::object::js_object_alloc(0, 1);
@@ -493,8 +500,13 @@ fn readable_unshift_after_eof_before_end_prepends_chunk() {
         TAG_TRUE
     );
 
-    let joined = js_node_stream_method_read(handle, f64::from_bits(TAG_UNDEFINED));
-    assert_eq!(stream_test_buffer_bytes(joined), b"hello world");
+    // Chunk-at-a-time (no decoder): `read()` returns the unshifted head
+    // ("hello ") and leaves "world" for the next read, even though EOF was
+    // already signalled via push(null). Matches node v26.
+    let head = js_node_stream_method_read(handle, f64::from_bits(TAG_UNDEFINED));
+    assert_eq!(stream_test_buffer_bytes(head), b"hello ");
+    let tail = js_node_stream_method_read(handle, f64::from_bits(TAG_UNDEFINED));
+    assert_eq!(stream_test_buffer_bytes(tail), b"world");
 }
 
 fn stream_test_buffer_bytes(value: f64) -> Vec<u8> {