1 files changed, 4 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/lib/internal/worker/io.js b/lib/internal/worker/io.js
index 63c8a8d976..ba2150e530 100644
--- a/lib/internal/worker/io.js
+++ b/lib/internal/worker/io.js
@@ -169,8 +169,10 @@ class ReadableWorkerStdio extends Readable {
     this[kIncrementsPortRef] = true;
     this[kStartedReading] = false;
     this.on('end', () => {
-      if (this[kIncrementsPortRef] && --this[kPort][kWaitingStreams] === 0)
-        this[kPort].unref();
+      if (this[kStartedReading] && this[kIncrementsPortRef]) {
+        if (--this[kPort][kWaitingStreams] === 0)
+          this[kPort].unref();
+      }
     });
   }