diff --git a/src/uv-common.c b/src/uv-common.c
index 86d79da59..e5a763290 100644
--- a/src/uv-common.c
+++ b/src/uv-common.c
@@ -928,7 +928,7 @@ int uv_read_start(uv_stream_t* stream,
   if (stream->flags & UV_HANDLE_CLOSING)
     return UV_EINVAL;
 
-  if (stream->read_cb != NULL)
+  if (stream->flags & UV_HANDLE_READING)
     return UV_EALREADY;
 
   if (!(stream->flags & UV_HANDLE_READABLE))