diff --git a/lib/_stream_readable.js b/lib/_stream_readable.js
index 9c242990d4f..20ce5ed2db3 100644
--- a/lib/_stream_readable.js
+++ b/lib/_stream_readable.js
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@ function Readable(options) {
     return new Readable(options);
 
   this._readableState = new ReadableState(options, this);
+
+  // legacy
+  this.readable = true;
+
   Stream.apply(this);
 }