diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6ee45b205..1e346779d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ The first argument can be either a `url` or an `options` object. The only requir
 
 ---
 
-- `body` - entity body for PATCH, POST and PUT requests. Must be a `Buffer` or `String`, unless `json` is `true`. If `json` is `true`, then `body` must be a JSON-serializable object.
+- `body` - entity body for PATCH, POST and PUT requests. Must be a `Buffer`, `String` or `ReadStream`. If `json` is `true`, then `body` must be a JSON-serializable object.
 - `form` - when passed an object or a querystring, this sets `body` to a querystring representation of value, and adds `Content-type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded` header. When passed no options, a `FormData` instance is returned (and is piped to request). See "Forms" section above.
 - `formData` - Data to pass for a `multipart/form-data` request. See
   [Forms](#forms) section above.
diff --git a/request.js b/request.js
index e4a181237..cb3862b0e 100644
--- a/request.js
+++ b/request.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ var http = require('http')
   , ForeverAgent = require('forever-agent')
   , FormData = require('form-data')
   , extend = require('extend')
+  , isstream = require('isstream')
   , isTypedArray = require('is-typedarray').strict
   , helpers = require('./lib/helpers')
   , cookies = require('./lib/cookies')
@@ -452,7 +453,7 @@ Request.prototype.init = function (options) {
       }
     }
   }
-  if (self.body) {
+  if (self.body && !isstream(self.body)) {
     setContentLength()
   }
 
@@ -552,15 +553,19 @@ Request.prototype.init = function (options) {
         self._multipart.body.pipe(self)
       }
       if (self.body) {
-        setContentLength()
-        if (Array.isArray(self.body)) {
-          self.body.forEach(function (part) {
-            self.write(part)
-          })
+        if (isstream(self.body)) {
+          self.body.pipe(self)
         } else {
-          self.write(self.body)
+          setContentLength()
+          if (Array.isArray(self.body)) {
+            self.body.forEach(function (part) {
+              self.write(part)
+            })
+          } else {
+            self.write(self.body)
+          }
+          self.end()
         }
-        self.end()
       } else if (self.requestBodyStream) {
         console.warn('options.requestBodyStream is deprecated, please pass the request object to stream.pipe.')
         self.requestBodyStream.pipe(self)
diff --git a/tests/test-stream.js b/tests/test-stream.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b1fbfad0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test-stream.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+
+var fs = require('fs')
+var path = require('path')
+var http = require('http')
+var tape = require('tape')
+var request = require('../')
+var server
+
+
+tape('before', function (t) {
+  server = http.createServer()
+  server.on('request', function (req, res) {
+    req.pipe(res)
+  })
+  server.listen(6767, t.end)
+})
+
+tape('request body stream', function (t) {
+  var fpath = path.join(__dirname, 'unicycle.jpg')
+  var input = fs.createReadStream(fpath, {highWaterMark: 1000})
+  request({
+    uri: 'http://localhost:6767',
+    method: 'POST',
+    body: input,
+    encoding: null
+  }, function (err, res, body) {
+    t.equal(body.length, fs.statSync(fpath).size)
+    t.end()
+  })
+})
+
+tape('after', function (t) {
+  server.close(t.end)
+})