diff --git a/lib/_stream_readable.js b/lib/_stream_readable.js
index 9f384a409e9..b9f8291874f 100644
--- a/lib/_stream_readable.js
+++ b/lib/_stream_readable.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ util.inherits(Readable, Stream);
 function ReadableState(options, stream) {
   options = options || {};
 
-  // the argument passed to this._read(n,cb)
+  // the argument passed to this._read(n)
   this.bufferSize = options.bufferSize || 16 * 1024;
 
   // the point at which it stops calling _read() to fill the buffer
@@ -58,10 +58,6 @@ function ReadableState(options, stream) {
   // not happen before the first write call.
   this.sync = true;
 
-  this.onread = function(er, data) {
-    onread(stream, er, data);
-  };
-
   // whenever we return null, then we set a flag to say
   // that we're awaiting a 'readable' event emission.
   this.needReadable = false;
@@ -121,7 +117,7 @@ function readableAddChunk(stream, state, chunk, addToFront) {
   if (er) {
     stream.emit('error', er);
   } else if (chunk === null || chunk === undefined) {
-    onreadEof(stream, state);
+    onEofChunk(stream, state);
   } else if (state.objectMode || chunk && chunk.length > 0) {
     if (state.decoder)
       chunk = state.decoder.write(chunk);
@@ -196,7 +192,7 @@ function howMuchToRead(n, state) {
   return n;
 }
 
-// you can override either this method, or _read(n, cb) below.
+// you can override either this method, or the async _read(n) below.
 Readable.prototype.read = function(n) {
   var state = this._readableState;
   var nOrig = n;
@@ -264,7 +260,7 @@ Readable.prototype.read = function(n) {
     if (state.length === 0)
       state.needReadable = true;
     // call internal read method
-    this._read(state.bufferSize, state.onread);
+    this._read(state.bufferSize);
     state.sync = false;
   }
 
@@ -301,18 +297,6 @@ Readable.prototype.read = function(n) {
   return ret;
 };
 
-// This is the function passed to _read(n,cb) as the callback.
-// It should be called exactly once for every _read() call.
-function onread(stream, er, chunk) {
-  var state = stream._readableState;
-  var sync = state.sync;
-
-  if (er)
-    stream.emit('error', er);
-  else
-    stream.push(chunk);
-}
-
 function chunkInvalid(state, chunk) {
   var er = null;
   if (!Buffer.isBuffer(chunk) &&
@@ -327,7 +311,7 @@ function chunkInvalid(state, chunk) {
 }
 
 
-function onreadEof(stream, state) {
+function onEofChunk(stream, state) {
   state.ended = true;
   if (state.decoder) {
     var chunk = state.decoder.end();
@@ -371,7 +355,7 @@ function emitReadable_(stream) {
 
 // at this point, the user has presumably seen the 'readable' event,
 // and called read() to consume some data.  that may have triggered
-// in turn another _read(n,cb) call, in which case reading = true if
+// in turn another _read(n) call, in which case reading = true if
 // it's in progress.
 // However, if we're not ended, or reading, and the length < hwm,
 // then go ahead and try to read some more right now preemptively.
@@ -395,10 +379,8 @@ function maybeReadMore_(stream, state) {
 // call cb(er, data) where data is <= n in length.
 // for virtual (non-string, non-buffer) streams, "length" is somewhat
 // arbitrary, and perhaps not very meaningful.
-Readable.prototype._read = function(n, cb) {
-  process.nextTick(function() {
-    cb(new Error('not implemented'));
-  });
+Readable.prototype._read = function(n) {
+  this.emit('error', new Error('not implemented'));
 };
 
 Readable.prototype.pipe = function(dest, pipeOpts) {
@@ -758,7 +740,7 @@ Readable.prototype.wrap = function(stream) {
 
   // when we try to consume some more bytes, simply unpause the
   // underlying stream.
-  self._read = function(n, cb) {
+  self._read = function(n) {
     if (paused) {
       stream.resume();
       paused = false;
diff --git a/lib/_stream_transform.js b/lib/_stream_transform.js
index 0ee5a5030ee..d8f6e605328 100644
--- a/lib/_stream_transform.js
+++ b/lib/_stream_transform.js
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@
 // The Transform stream has all the aspects of the readable and writable
 // stream classes.  When you write(chunk), that calls _write(chunk,cb)
 // internally, and returns false if there's a lot of pending writes
-// buffered up.  When you call read(), that calls _read(n,cb) until
+// buffered up.  When you call read(), that calls _read(n) until
 // there's enough pending readable data buffered up.
 //
 // In a transform stream, the written data is placed in a buffer.  When
-// _read(n,cb) is called, it transforms the queued up data, calling the
+// _read(n) is called, it transforms the queued up data, calling the
 // buffered _write cb's as it consumes chunks.  If consuming a single
 // written chunk would result in multiple output chunks, then the first
 // outputted bit calls the readcb, and subsequent chunks just go into
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ function afterTransform(stream, er, data) {
 
   var rs = stream._readableState;
   if (rs.needReadable || rs.length < rs.highWaterMark) {
-    stream._read();
+    stream._read(rs.bufferSize);
   }
 }
 
@@ -162,13 +162,13 @@ Transform.prototype._write = function(chunk, cb) {
     return;
   var rs = this._readableState;
   if (ts.needTransform || rs.needReadable || rs.length < rs.highWaterMark)
-    this._read();
+    this._read(rs.bufferSize);
 };
 
 // Doesn't matter what the args are here.
 // the output and callback functions passed to _transform do all the work.
 // That we got here means that the readable side wants more data.
-Transform.prototype._read = function(n, cb) {
+Transform.prototype._read = function(n) {
   var ts = this._transformState;
 
   if (ts.writechunk && ts.writecb && !ts.transforming) {
diff --git a/lib/fs.js b/lib/fs.js
index 8188f717000..a1bc487b3d3 100644
--- a/lib/fs.js
+++ b/lib/fs.js
@@ -1453,10 +1453,10 @@ ReadStream.prototype.open = function() {
   });
 };
 
-ReadStream.prototype._read = function(n, cb) {
+ReadStream.prototype._read = function(n) {
   if (typeof this.fd !== 'number')
     return this.once('open', function() {
-      this._read(n, cb);
+      this._read(n);
     });
 
   if (this.destroyed)
@@ -1482,7 +1482,7 @@ ReadStream.prototype._read = function(n, cb) {
   // already read everything we were supposed to read!
   // treat as EOF.
   if (toRead <= 0)
-    return cb();
+    return this.push(null);
 
   // the actual read.
   var self = this;
@@ -1498,14 +1498,14 @@ ReadStream.prototype._read = function(n, cb) {
       if (self.autoClose) {
         self.destroy();
       }
-      return cb(er);
+      self.emit('error', er);
+    } else {
+      var b = null;
+      if (bytesRead > 0)
+        b = thisPool.slice(start, start + bytesRead);
+
+      self.push(b);
     }
-
-    var b = null;
-    if (bytesRead > 0)
-      b = thisPool.slice(start, start + bytesRead);
-
-    cb(null, b);
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/http.js b/lib/http.js
index e5c709da0f9..56d9aae4236 100644
--- a/lib/http.js
+++ b/lib/http.js
@@ -331,12 +331,12 @@ IncomingMessage.prototype.read = function(n) {
 };
 
 
-IncomingMessage.prototype._read = function(n, callback) {
+IncomingMessage.prototype._read = function(n) {
   // We actually do almost nothing here, because the parserOnBody
   // function fills up our internal buffer directly.  However, we
   // do need to unpause the underlying socket so that it flows.
   if (!this.socket.readable)
-    return callback(null, null);
+    this.push(null);
   else
     readStart(this.socket);
 };
diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index 83ca47cccdc..934f9f2ea2a 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ function afterShutdown(status, handle, req) {
 function onSocketEnd() {
   // XXX Should not have to do as much crap in this function.
   // ended should already be true, since this is called *after*
-  // the EOF errno and onread has returned null to the _read cb.
+  // the EOF errno and onread has eof'ed
   debug('onSocketEnd', this._readableState);
   this._readableState.ended = true;
   if (this._readableState.endEmitted) {
@@ -335,25 +335,19 @@ Object.defineProperty(Socket.prototype, 'bufferSize', {
 
 
 // Just call handle.readStart until we have enough in the buffer
-Socket.prototype._read = function(n, callback) {
+Socket.prototype._read = function(n) {
   debug('_read');
+
   if (this._connecting || !this._handle) {
     debug('_read wait for connection');
-    this.once('connect', this._read.bind(this, n, callback));
-    return;
-  }
-
-  assert(callback === this._readableState.onread);
-  assert(this._readableState.reading = true);
-
-  if (!this._handle.reading) {
+    this.once('connect', this._read.bind(this, n));
+  } else if (!this._handle.reading) {
+    // not already reading, start the flow
     debug('Socket._read readStart');
     this._handle.reading = true;
     var r = this._handle.readStart();
     if (r)
       this._destroy(errnoException(process._errno, 'read'));
-  } else {
-    debug('readStart already has been called.');
   }
 };
 
@@ -495,7 +489,7 @@ function onread(buffer, offset, length) {
 
     if (self.onend) self.once('end', self.onend);
 
-    // send a null to the _read cb to signal the end of data.
+    // push a null to signal the end of data.
     self.push(null);
 
     // internal end event so that we know that the actual socket
diff --git a/lib/tls.js b/lib/tls.js
index 2a780373adf..bb0a03af22e 100644
--- a/lib/tls.js
+++ b/lib/tls.js
@@ -381,12 +381,13 @@ CryptoStream.prototype._writePending = function writePending() {
 };
 
 
-CryptoStream.prototype._read = function read(size, cb) {
+CryptoStream.prototype._read = function read(size) {
   // XXX: EOF?!
-  if (!this.pair.ssl) return cb(null, null);
+  if (!this.pair.ssl) return this.push(null);
 
   // Wait for session to be resumed
-  if (this._resumingSession || !this._reading) return cb(null, '');
+  // Mark that we're done reading, but don't provide data or EOF
+  if (this._resumingSession || !this._reading) return this.push('');
 
   var out;
   if (this === this.pair.cleartext) {
@@ -441,11 +442,12 @@ CryptoStream.prototype._read = function read(size, cb) {
       if (this === this.pair.cleartext)
         this._opposite._done();
 
-      return cb(null, null);
+      // EOF
+      return this.push(null);
     }
 
     // Bail out
-    return cb(null, '');
+    return this.push('');
   }
 
   // Give them requested data
@@ -459,7 +461,7 @@ CryptoStream.prototype._read = function read(size, cb) {
       self.read(bytesRead);
     });
   }
-  return cb(null, pool.slice(start, start + bytesRead));
+  return this.push(pool.slice(start, start + bytesRead));
 };
 
 
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream-big-push.js b/test/simple/test-stream-big-push.js
index f54bcc30d38..e3787e4412f 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream-big-push.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream-big-push.js
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ var reads = 0;
 var eofed = false;
 var ended = false;
 
-r._read = function(n, cb) {
+r._read = function(n) {
   if (reads === 0) {
     setTimeout(function() {
-      cb(null, str);
+      r.push(str);
     });
     reads++;
   } else if (reads === 1) {
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ r._read = function(n, cb) {
   } else {
     assert(!eofed);
     eofed = true;
-    cb(null, null);
+    r.push(null);
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream-push-order.js b/test/simple/test-stream-push-order.js
index 900a8c778df..f2e6ec29ce3 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream-push-order.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream-push-order.js
@@ -30,14 +30,15 @@ var s = new Readable({
 
 var list = ['1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6'];
 
-s._read = function (n, cb) {
+s._read = function (n) {
   var one = list.shift();
-  if (!one)
-    return cb(null, null);
-
-  var two = list.shift();
-  s.push(one);
-  cb(null, two);
+  if (!one) {
+    s.push(null);
+  } else {
+    var two = list.shift();
+    s.push(one);
+    s.push(two);
+  }
 };
 
 var v = s.read(0);
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-basic.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-basic.js
index c24ec243f6b..d3b53fd7cd3 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-basic.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-basic.js
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ test('read(0) for ended streams', function (t) {
   var r = new R();
   var written = false;
   var ended = false;
-  r._read = function () {};
+  r._read = function (n) {};
 
   r.push(new Buffer("foo"));
   r.push(null);
@@ -435,8 +435,8 @@ test('read(0) for ended streams', function (t) {
 test('sync _read ending', function (t) {
   var r = new R();
   var called = false;
-  r._read = function (n, cb) {
-    cb(null, null);
+  r._read = function (n) {
+    r.push(null);
   };
 
   r.once('end', function () {
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-compatibility.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-compatibility.js
index cb07278d55e..2b98c1fa8f0 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-compatibility.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-compatibility.js
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ function TestReader() {
 
 util.inherits(TestReader, R);
 
-TestReader.prototype._read = function(n, cb) {
-  cb(null, this._buffer);
+TestReader.prototype._read = function(n) {
+  this.push(this._buffer);
   this._buffer = new Buffer(0);
 };
 
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-finish-pipe.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-finish-pipe.js
index 686af2449d8..bcb57a74a0a 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-finish-pipe.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-finish-pipe.js
@@ -23,19 +23,19 @@ var common = require('../common.js');
 var stream = require('stream');
 var Buffer = require('buffer').Buffer;
 
-var R = new stream.Readable();
-R._read = function(size, cb) {
-  cb(null, new Buffer(size));
+var r = new stream.Readable();
+r._read = function(size) {
+  r.push(new Buffer(size));
 };
 
-var W = new stream.Writable();
-W._write = function(data, cb) {
+var w = new stream.Writable();
+w._write = function(data, cb) {
   cb(null);
 };
 
-R.pipe(W);
+r.pipe(w);
 
 // This might sound unrealistic, but it happens in net.js. When
 // `socket.allowHalfOpen === false`, EOF will cause `.destroySoon()` call which
 // ends the writable side of net.Socket.
-W.end();
+w.end();
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-objects.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-objects.js
index 7ff30c850ed..8939ad7a682 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-objects.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-objects.js
@@ -126,9 +126,9 @@ test('read(n) is ignored', function(t) {
 test('can read objects from _read (sync)', function(t) {
   var r = new Readable({ objectMode: true });
   var list = [{ one: '1'}, { two: '2' }];
-  r._read = function(n, cb) {
+  r._read = function(n) {
     var item = list.shift();
-    cb(null, item || null);
+    r.push(item || null);
   };
 
   r.pipe(toArray(function(list) {
@@ -144,10 +144,10 @@ test('can read objects from _read (sync)', function(t) {
 test('can read objects from _read (async)', function(t) {
   var r = new Readable({ objectMode: true });
   var list = [{ one: '1'}, { two: '2' }];
-  r._read = function(n, cb) {
+  r._read = function(n) {
     var item = list.shift();
     process.nextTick(function() {
-      cb(null, item || null);
+      r.push(item || null);
     });
   };
 
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ test('high watermark _read', function(t) {
   var calls = 0;
   var list = ['1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8'];
 
-  r._read = function() {
+  r._read = function(n) {
     calls++;
   };
 
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ test('high watermark push', function(t) {
     highWaterMark: 6,
     objectMode: true
   });
-  r._read = function() {};
+  r._read = function(n) {};
   for (var i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
     var bool = r.push(i);
     assert.equal(bool, i === 5 ? false : true);
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-pipe-error-handling.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-pipe-error-handling.js
index c17139f5d37..82c9a79be96 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-pipe-error-handling.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-pipe-error-handling.js
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ var stream = require('stream');
   var count = 1000;
 
   var source = new stream.Readable();
-  source._read = function(n, cb) {
+  source._read = function(n) {
     n = Math.min(count, n);
     count -= n;
-    cb(null, new Buffer(n));
+    source.push(new Buffer(n));
   };
 
   var unpipedDest;
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ var stream = require('stream');
   var count = 1000;
 
   var source = new stream.Readable();
-  source._read = function(n, cb) {
+  source._read = function(n) {
     n = Math.min(count, n);
     count -= n;
-    cb(null, new Buffer(n));
+    source.push(new Buffer(n));
   };
 
   var unpipedDest;
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-read-sync-stack.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-read-sync-stack.js
index 4e5ab172955..e8a73053c8c 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-read-sync-stack.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-read-sync-stack.js
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ var N = 256 * 1024;
 process.maxTickDepth = N + 2;
 
 var reads = 0;
-r._read = function(n, cb) {
+r._read = function(n) {
   var chunk = reads++ === N ? null : new Buffer(1);
-  cb(null, chunk);
+  r.push(chunk);
 };
 
 r.on('readable', function onReadable() {
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-empty-buffer-no-eof.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-empty-buffer-no-eof.js
index 6cc7c73f08f..cd301785802 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-empty-buffer-no-eof.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-empty-buffer-no-eof.js
@@ -43,28 +43,28 @@ function test1() {
   var buf = new Buffer(5);
   buf.fill('x');
   var reads = 5;
-  r._read = function(n, cb) {
+  r._read = function(n) {
     switch (reads--) {
       case 0:
-        return cb(null, null); // EOF
+        return r.push(null); // EOF
       case 1:
-        return cb(null, buf);
+        return r.push(buf);
       case 2:
         setTimeout(r.read.bind(r, 0), 10);
-        return cb(null, new Buffer(0)); // Not-EOF!
+        return r.push(new Buffer(0)); // Not-EOF!
       case 3:
         setTimeout(r.read.bind(r, 0), 10);
         return process.nextTick(function() {
-          return cb(null, new Buffer(0));
+          return r.push(new Buffer(0));
         });
       case 4:
         setTimeout(r.read.bind(r, 0), 10);
         return setTimeout(function() {
-          return cb(null, new Buffer(0));
+          return r.push(new Buffer(0));
         });
       case 5:
         return setTimeout(function() {
-          return cb(null, buf);
+          return r.push(buf);
         });
       default:
         throw new Error('unreachable');
@@ -92,11 +92,11 @@ function test1() {
 function test2() {
   var r = new Readable({ encoding: 'base64' });
   var reads = 5;
-  r._read = function(n, cb) {
+  r._read = function(n) {
     if (!reads--)
-      return cb(null, null); // EOF
+      return r.push(null); // EOF
     else
-      return cb(null, new Buffer('x'));
+      return r.push(new Buffer('x'));
   };
 
   var results = [];
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-legacy-drain.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-legacy-drain.js
index a1fffd9bb50..675da8e90de 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-legacy-drain.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-legacy-drain.js
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ var Readable = Stream.Readable;
 var r = new Readable();
 var N = 256;
 var reads = 0;
-r._read = function(n, cb) {
-  return cb(null, ++reads === N ? null : new Buffer(1));
+r._read = function(n) {
+  return r.push(++reads === N ? null : new Buffer(1));
 };
 
 var rended = false;
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-non-empty-end.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-non-empty-end.js
index 351bef6098d..7314ae77b13 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-non-empty-end.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-readable-non-empty-end.js
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ for (var i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
 
 var test = new Readable();
 var n = 0;
-test._read = function(size, cb) {
+test._read = function(size) {
   var chunk = chunks[n++];
   setTimeout(function() {
-    cb(null, chunk);
+    test.push(chunk);
   });
 };
 
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-set-encoding.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-set-encoding.js
index 3571bac4f12..758a4342eed 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-set-encoding.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-set-encoding.js
@@ -72,25 +72,25 @@ function TestReader(n, opts) {
   this.len = n || 100;
 }
 
-TestReader.prototype._read = function(n, cb) {
+TestReader.prototype._read = function(n) {
   setTimeout(function() {
 
     if (this.pos >= this.len) {
-      return cb();
+      return this.push(null);
     }
 
     n = Math.min(n, this.len - this.pos);
     if (n <= 0) {
-      return cb();
+      return this.push(null);
     }
 
     this.pos += n;
     var ret = new Buffer(n);
     ret.fill('a');
 
-    console.log("cb(null, ret)", ret)
+    console.log("this.push(ret)", ret)
 
-    return cb(null, ret);
+    return this.push(ret);
   }.bind(this), 1);
 };
 
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-unpipe-drain.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-unpipe-drain.js
index 0fc963e802f..4f5b3b7532a 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-unpipe-drain.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-unpipe-drain.js
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ function TestReader(id) {
 }
 util.inherits(TestReader, stream.Readable);
 
-TestReader.prototype._read = function (size, callback) {
+TestReader.prototype._read = function (size) {
   this.reads += 1;
-  crypto.randomBytes(size, callback);
+  this.push(crypto.randomBytes(size));
 };
 
 var src1 = new TestReader();
diff --git a/test/simple/test-stream2-unpipe-leak.js b/test/simple/test-stream2-unpipe-leak.js
index a560bfa0cb9..993dd16e387 100644
--- a/test/simple/test-stream2-unpipe-leak.js
+++ b/test/simple/test-stream2-unpipe-leak.js
@@ -27,30 +27,30 @@ var stream = require('stream');
 var util = require('util');
 
 function TestWriter() {
-    stream.Writable.call(this);
+  stream.Writable.call(this);
 }
 util.inherits(TestWriter, stream.Writable);
 
-TestWriter.prototype._write = function (buffer, callback) {
-    callback(null);
+TestWriter.prototype._write = function(buffer, callback) {
+  callback(null);
 };
 
 var dest = new TestWriter();
 
 function TestReader() {
-    stream.Readable.call(this);
+  stream.Readable.call(this);
 }
 util.inherits(TestReader, stream.Readable);
 
-TestReader.prototype._read = function (size, callback) {
-    callback(new Buffer('hallo'));
+TestReader.prototype._read = function(size) {
+  stream.push(new Buffer('hallo'));
 };
 
 var src = new TestReader();
 
 for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
-    src.pipe(dest);
-    src.unpipe(dest);
+  src.pipe(dest);
+  src.unpipe(dest);
 }
 
 assert.equal(src.listeners('end').length, 0);