diff --git a/lib/_stream_readable.js b/lib/_stream_readable.js
index fb0fbbbdf4d83b..6854b3d9ebca8a 100644
--- a/lib/_stream_readable.js
+++ b/lib/_stream_readable.js
@@ -649,8 +649,8 @@ Readable.prototype.pipe = function(dest, pipeOpts) {
       if (((state.pipesCount === 1 && state.pipes === dest) ||
            (state.pipesCount > 1 && state.pipes.indexOf(dest) !== -1)) &&
           !cleanedUp) {
-        debug('false write response, pause', src._readableState.awaitDrain);
-        src._readableState.awaitDrain++;
+        debug('false write response, pause', state.awaitDrain);
+        state.awaitDrain++;
         increasedAwaitDrain = true;
       }
       src.pause();