diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/bytes/at.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/bytes/at.rs
index 32514b36fe..4a8d034b3f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/bytes/at.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/bytes/at.rs
@@ -5,18 +5,27 @@ pub fn returns_error_for_relative_range_on_infinite_stream() {
     let actual = nu!("nu --testbin iecho 3 | bytes at ..-3");
     assert!(
         actual.err.contains(
-            "Relative range values cannot be used with streams that don't specify a length"
+            "Relative range values cannot be used with streams that don't have a known length"
         ),
         "Expected error message for negative range with infinite stream"
     );
 }
 
 #[test]
-pub fn returns_bytes_for_fixed_range_on_infinite_stream() {
+pub fn returns_bytes_for_fixed_range_on_infinite_stream_including_end() {
     let actual = nu!("nu --testbin iecho 3 | bytes at ..10 | decode");
     assert_eq!(
         actual.out, "33333",
-        "Expected bytes from index 1 to 10, but got different output"
+        "Expected bytes from index 0 to 10, but got different output"
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+pub fn returns_bytes_for_fixed_range_on_infinite_stream_excluding_end() {
+    let actual = nu!("nu --testbin iecho 3 | bytes at ..<9 | decode");
+    assert_eq!(
+        actual.out, "3333",
+        "Expected bytes from index 0 to 8, but got different output"
     );
 }
 
@@ -28,7 +37,7 @@ pub fn test_string_returns_correct_slice_for_simple_positive_slice() {
 
 #[test]
 pub fn test_string_returns_correct_slice_for_negative_start() {
-    let actual = nu!("\"Hello World\" | encode utf8 | bytes at 6..11 | decode");
+    let actual = nu!("\"Hello World\" | encode utf8 | bytes at (-5)..10 | decode");
     assert_eq!(actual.out, "World");
 }
 
@@ -46,7 +55,7 @@ pub fn test_string_returns_correct_slice_for_empty_slice() {
 
 #[test]
 pub fn test_string_returns_correct_slice_for_out_of_bounds() {
-    let actual = nu!("\"Hello World\" | encode utf8 | bytes at 0..20 | decode");
+    let actual = nu!("\"Hello World\" | encode utf8 | bytes at ..20 | decode");
     assert_eq!(actual.out, "Hello World");
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/errors/shell_error.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/errors/shell_error.rs
index 96678daef5..9590987a0d 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/errors/shell_error.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/errors/shell_error.rs
@@ -653,6 +653,18 @@ pub enum ShellError {
         creation_site: Span,
     },
 
+    /// Attempted to us a relative range on an infinite stream
+    ///
+    /// ## Resolution
+    ///
+    /// Ensure that either the range is absolute or the stream has a known length.
+    #[error("Relative range values cannot be used with streams that don't have a known length")]
+    #[diagnostic(code(nu::shell::relative_range_on_infinite_stream))]
+    RelativeRangeOnInfiniteStream {
+        #[label = "Relative range values cannot be used with streams that don't have a known length"]
+        span: Span,
+    },
+
     /// An error happened while performing an external command.
     ///
     /// ## Resolution
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/pipeline/byte_stream.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/pipeline/byte_stream.rs
index e30b788666..159a270418 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/pipeline/byte_stream.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/pipeline/byte_stream.rs
@@ -213,15 +213,14 @@ impl ByteStream {
     }
 
     pub fn skip(self, span: Span, n: u64) -> Result<Self, ShellError> {
+        let known_size = self.known_size.map(|len| len.saturating_sub(n));
         if let Some(mut reader) = self.reader() {
             // Copy the number of skipped bytes into the sink before proceeding
             io::copy(&mut (&mut reader).take(n), &mut io::sink()).err_span(span)?;
-            Ok(ByteStream::read(
-                reader,
-                span,
-                Signals::empty(),
-                ByteStreamType::Binary,
-            ))
+            Ok(
+                ByteStream::read(reader, span, Signals::empty(), ByteStreamType::Binary)
+                    .with_known_size(known_size),
+            )
         } else {
             Err(ShellError::TypeMismatch {
                 err_message: "expected readable stream".into(),
@@ -231,13 +230,15 @@ impl ByteStream {
     }
 
     pub fn take(self, span: Span, n: u64) -> Result<Self, ShellError> {
+        let known_size = self.known_size.map(|s| s.min(n));
         if let Some(reader) = self.reader() {
             Ok(ByteStream::read(
                 reader.take(n),
                 span,
                 Signals::empty(),
                 ByteStreamType::Binary,
-            ))
+            )
+            .with_known_size(known_size))
         } else {
             Err(ShellError::TypeMismatch {
                 err_message: "expected readable stream".into(),
@@ -248,45 +249,38 @@ impl ByteStream {
 
     pub fn slice(
         self,
-        range_span: Span,
+        val_span: Span,
         call_span: Span,
         range: IntRange,
     ) -> Result<Self, ShellError> {
-        match self.known_size {
-            Some(len) => {
-                let absolute_start = range.absolute_start(len);
-                match range.absolute_end(len) {
-                    Bound::Unbounded => self.skip(range_span, absolute_start),
-                    Bound::Included(end) => self.skip(range_span, absolute_start)
-                        .and_then(|stream| stream.take(range_span, end.saturating_sub(absolute_start) + 1)),
-                    Bound::Excluded(end) => self.skip(range_span, absolute_start)
-                        .and_then(|stream| stream.take(range_span, end.saturating_sub(absolute_start))),
+        if let Some(len) = self.known_size {
+            let start = range.absolute_start(len);
+            let stream = self.skip(val_span, start);
+
+            match range.absolute_end(len) {
+                Bound::Unbounded => stream,
+                Bound::Included(end) | Bound::Excluded(end) if end < start => {
+                    stream.and_then(|s| s.take(val_span, 0))
+                }
+                Bound::Included(end) => {
+                    let distance = end - start + 1;
+                    stream.and_then(|s| s.take(val_span, distance.min(len)))
+                }
+                Bound::Excluded(end) => {
+                    let distance = end - start;
+                    stream.and_then(|s| s.take(val_span, distance.min(len)))
                 }
             }
-            None => match range.is_relative() {
-                true => Err(ShellError::IncorrectValue {
-                    msg:
-                        "Relative range values cannot be used with streams that don't specify a length"
-                            .into(),
-                    val_span: range_span,
-                    call_span,
-                }),
-                false => {
-                    let skip = range.start();
-                    match range.end() {
-                        std::ops::Bound::Unbounded => self.skip(range_span, skip as u64),
-                        std::ops::Bound::Included(end) => match end - skip {
-                            take if take < 0 => self.take(range_span, 0),
-                            take => self.skip(range_span, skip as u64)
-                                .and_then(|stream| stream.take(range_span, take as u64 + 1)),
-                        },
-                        std::ops::Bound::Excluded(end) => match end - skip {
-                            take if take < 0 => self.take(range_span, 0),
-                            take => self.skip(range_span, skip as u64)
-                                .and_then(|stream| stream.take(range_span, take as u64)),
-                        },
-                    }
-                }
+        } else if range.is_relative() {
+            Err(ShellError::RelativeRangeOnInfiniteStream { span: call_span })
+        } else {
+            let start = range.start() as u64;
+            let stream = self.skip(val_span, start);
+
+            match range.distance() {
+                Bound::Unbounded => stream,
+                Bound::Included(distance) => stream.and_then(|s| s.take(val_span, distance)),
+                Bound::Excluded(distance) => stream.and_then(|s| s.take(val_span, distance - 1)),
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/range.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/range.rs
index 4a55e5c832..9e9c252fdd 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/range.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/range.rs
@@ -82,9 +82,22 @@ mod int_range {
         }
 
         pub fn absolute_start(&self, len: u64) -> u64 {
+            let max_index = len - 1;
             match self.start {
                 start if start < 0 => len.saturating_sub(start.unsigned_abs().into()),
-                start => start as u64,
+                start => max_index.min(start as u64),
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// Returns the distance between the start and end of the range
+        /// The result will always be 0 or positive
+        pub fn distance(&self) -> Bound<u64> {
+            match self.end {
+                Bound::Unbounded => Bound::Unbounded,
+                Bound::Included(end) if self.start > end => Bound::Included(0),
+                Bound::Excluded(end) if self.start > end => Bound::Excluded(0),
+                Bound::Included(end) => Bound::Included((end - self.start) as u64),
+                Bound::Excluded(end) => Bound::Excluded((end - self.start) as u64),
             }
         }
 
@@ -93,15 +106,16 @@ mod int_range {
         }
 
         pub fn absolute_end(&self, len: u64) -> Bound<u64> {
+            let max_index = len - 1;
             match self.end {
                 Bound::Unbounded => Bound::Unbounded,
                 Bound::Included(i) => Bound::Included(match i {
                     i if i < 0 => len.saturating_sub(i.unsigned_abs() as u64),
-                    i => i as u64,
+                    i => max_index.min(i as u64),
                 }),
                 Bound::Excluded(i) => Bound::Excluded(match i {
                     i if i < 0 => len.saturating_sub(i.unsigned_abs() as u64),
-                    i => i as u64,
+                    i => len.min(i as u64),
                 }),
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/tests/pipeline/byte_stream.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/tests/pipeline/byte_stream.rs
index a659188cdc..3d06573461 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/tests/pipeline/byte_stream.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/tests/pipeline/byte_stream.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ pub fn test_simple_positive_slice_exclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"Hello");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "Hello");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -27,7 +28,8 @@ pub fn test_negative_start_exclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"World");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "World");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -42,7 +44,8 @@ pub fn test_negative_end_exclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"Hello");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "Hello");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -57,7 +60,8 @@ pub fn test_negative_start_and_end_exclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"Wor");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "Wor");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -72,7 +76,8 @@ pub fn test_empty_slice_exclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, Vec::<u8>::new());
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -87,7 +92,8 @@ pub fn test_out_of_bounds_exclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"Hello World");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "Hello World");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -102,7 +108,8 @@ pub fn test_invalid_range_exclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, Vec::<u8>::new());
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -117,7 +124,8 @@ pub fn test_max_end_exclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"World");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "World");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -132,7 +140,8 @@ pub fn test_simple_positive_slice_inclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"Hello");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "Hello");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -147,7 +156,8 @@ pub fn test_negative_start_inclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"World");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "World");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -162,7 +172,8 @@ pub fn test_negative_end_inclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"Hello");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "Hello");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -177,7 +188,8 @@ pub fn test_negative_start_and_end_inclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"World");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "World");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -192,7 +204,8 @@ pub fn test_empty_slice_inclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b" ");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, " ");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -207,7 +220,8 @@ pub fn test_out_of_bounds_inclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"Hello World");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "Hello World");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -222,7 +236,8 @@ pub fn test_invalid_range_inclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, Vec::<u8>::new());
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -237,7 +252,8 @@ pub fn test_max_end_inclusive() {
         )
         .unwrap();
     let result = sliced.into_bytes().unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(result, b"World");
+    let result = String::from_utf8(result).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(result, "World");
 }
 
 fn create_range(start: i64, end: i64, inclusion: RangeInclusion) -> IntRange {