diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index cc148db0a..bb4f1e905 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -201,6 +201,11 @@ name = "nonu"
 path = "crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/nonu.rs"
 required-features = ["test-bins"]
 
+[[bin]]
+name = "iecho"
+path = "crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/iecho.rs"
+required-features = ["test-bins"]
+
 # Core plugins that ship with `cargo install nu` by default
 # Currently, Cargo limits us to installing only one binary
 # unless we use [[bin]], so we use this as a workaround
diff --git a/crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/chop.rs b/crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/chop.rs
index 49f2e09a8..e1e63f29e 100644
--- a/crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/chop.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/chop.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use std::io::{self, BufRead};
+use std::io::{self, BufRead, Write};
 
 fn main() {
     if did_chop_arguments() {
@@ -8,9 +8,12 @@ fn main() {
 
     // if no arguments given, chop from standard input and exit.
     let stdin = io::stdin();
+    let mut stdout = io::stdout();
     for line in stdin.lock().lines() {
         if let Ok(given) = line {
-            println!("{}", chop(&given));
+            if let Err(_e) = writeln!(stdout, "{}", chop(&given)) {
+                break;
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/iecho.rs b/crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/iecho.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..711d498c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-test-support/src/bins/iecho.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+use std::io::{self, Write};
+
+fn main() {
+    let args: Vec<String> = std::env::args().collect();
+
+    // println! panics if stdout gets closed, whereas writeln gives us an error
+    let mut stdout = io::stdout();
+    let _ = args
+        .iter()
+        .skip(1)
+        .cycle()
+        .try_for_each(|v| writeln!(stdout, "{}", v));
+}
diff --git a/src/commands/classified/external.rs b/src/commands/classified/external.rs
index a798117e9..de306c1c3 100644
--- a/src/commands/classified/external.rs
+++ b/src/commands/classified/external.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
+use crate::futures::ThreadedReceiver;
 use crate::prelude::*;
+use futures::executor::block_on_stream;
 use futures::stream::StreamExt;
 use futures_codec::{FramedRead, LinesCodec};
 use log::trace;
@@ -11,6 +13,7 @@ use nu_value_ext::as_column_path;
 use std::io::Write;
 use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::process::{Command, Stdio};
+use std::sync::mpsc;
 
 pub fn nu_value_to_string(command: &ExternalCommand, from: &Value) -> Result<String, ShellError> {
     match &from.value {
@@ -27,7 +30,7 @@ pub fn nu_value_to_string(command: &ExternalCommand, from: &Value) -> Result<Str
 }
 
 pub fn nu_value_to_string_for_stdin(
-    command: &ExternalCommand,
+    name_tag: &Tag,
     from: &Value,
 ) -> Result<Option<String>, ShellError> {
     match &from.value {
@@ -40,12 +43,12 @@ pub fn nu_value_to_string_for_stdin(
                 unsupported.type_name()
             ),
             "expected a string",
-            &command.name_tag,
+            name_tag,
         )),
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) async fn run_external_command(
+pub(crate) fn run_external_command(
     command: ExternalCommand,
     context: &mut Context,
     input: Option<InputStream>,
@@ -62,9 +65,9 @@ pub(crate) async fn run_external_command(
     }
 
     if command.has_it_argument() || command.has_nu_argument() {
-        run_with_iterator_arg(command, context, input, is_last).await
+        run_with_iterator_arg(command, context, input, is_last)
     } else {
-        run_with_stdin(command, context, input, is_last).await
+        run_with_stdin(command, context, input, is_last)
     }
 }
 
@@ -114,7 +117,7 @@ fn to_column_path(
     )
 }
 
-async fn run_with_iterator_arg(
+fn run_with_iterator_arg(
     command: ExternalCommand,
     context: &mut Context,
     input: Option<InputStream>,
@@ -336,7 +339,7 @@ async fn run_with_iterator_arg(
     Ok(Some(stream.to_input_stream()))
 }
 
-async fn run_with_stdin(
+fn run_with_stdin(
     command: ExternalCommand,
     context: &mut Context,
     input: Option<InputStream>,
@@ -426,7 +429,6 @@ fn spawn(
     is_last: bool,
 ) -> Result<Option<InputStream>, ShellError> {
     let command = command.clone();
-    let name_tag = command.name_tag.clone();
 
     let mut process = {
         #[cfg(windows)]
@@ -467,76 +469,94 @@ fn spawn(
 
     trace!(target: "nu::run::external", "built command {:?}", process);
 
+    // TODO Switch to async_std::process once it's stabilized
     if let Ok(mut child) = process.spawn() {
-        let stream = async_stream! {
-            if let Some(mut input) = input {
-                let mut stdin_write = child.stdin
+        let (tx, rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(0);
+
+        let mut stdin = child.stdin.take();
+
+        let stdin_write_tx = tx.clone();
+        let stdout_read_tx = tx;
+        let stdin_name_tag = command.name_tag.clone();
+        let stdout_name_tag = command.name_tag;
+
+        std::thread::spawn(move || {
+            if let Some(input) = input {
+                let mut stdin_write = stdin
                     .take()
                     .expect("Internal error: could not get stdin pipe for external command");
 
-                while let Some(value) = input.next().await {
-                    let input_string = match nu_value_to_string_for_stdin(&command, &value) {
+                for value in block_on_stream(input) {
+                    let input_string = match nu_value_to_string_for_stdin(&stdin_name_tag, &value) {
                         Ok(None) => continue,
                         Ok(Some(v)) => v,
                         Err(e) => {
-                            yield Ok(Value {
+                            let _ = stdin_write_tx.send(Ok(Value {
                                 value: UntaggedValue::Error(e),
-                                tag: name_tag
-                            });
-                            return;
+                                tag: stdin_name_tag,
+                            }));
+                            return Err(());
                         }
                     };
 
                     if let Err(e) = stdin_write.write(input_string.as_bytes()) {
                         let message = format!("Unable to write to stdin (error = {})", e);
 
-                        yield Ok(Value {
+                        let _ = stdin_write_tx.send(Ok(Value {
                             value: UntaggedValue::Error(ShellError::labeled_error(
                                 message,
                                 "application may have closed before completing pipeline",
-                                &name_tag)),
-                            tag: name_tag
-                        });
-                        return;
+                                &stdin_name_tag,
+                            )),
+                            tag: stdin_name_tag,
+                        }));
+                        return Err(());
                     }
                 }
             }
 
+            Ok(())
+        });
+
+        std::thread::spawn(move || {
             if !is_last {
                 let stdout = if let Some(stdout) = child.stdout.take() {
                     stdout
                 } else {
-                    yield Ok(Value {
+                    let _ = stdout_read_tx.send(Ok(Value {
                         value: UntaggedValue::Error(ShellError::labeled_error(
                             "Can't redirect the stdout for external command",
                             "can't redirect stdout",
-                            &name_tag)),
-                        tag: name_tag
-                    });
-                    return;
+                            &stdout_name_tag,
+                        )),
+                        tag: stdout_name_tag,
+                    }));
+                    return Err(());
                 };
 
                 let file = futures::io::AllowStdIo::new(StdoutWithNewline::new(stdout));
-                let mut stream = FramedRead::new(file, LinesCodec);
+                let stream = FramedRead::new(file, LinesCodec);
 
-                while let Some(line) = stream.next().await {
+                for line in block_on_stream(stream) {
                     if let Ok(line) = line {
-                        yield Ok(Value {
+                        let result = stdout_read_tx.send(Ok(Value {
                             value: UntaggedValue::Primitive(Primitive::Line(line)),
-                            tag: name_tag.clone(),
-                        });
+                            tag: stdout_name_tag.clone(),
+                        }));
+
+                        if result.is_err() {
+                            break;
+                        }
                     } else {
-                        yield Ok(Value {
-                            value: UntaggedValue::Error(
-                                ShellError::labeled_error(
-                                    "Unable to read lines from stdout. This usually happens when the output does not end with a newline.",
-                                    "unable to read from stdout",
-                                    &name_tag,
-                                )
-                            ),
-                            tag: name_tag.clone(),
-                        });
-                        return;
+                        let _ = stdout_read_tx.send(Ok(Value {
+                            value: UntaggedValue::Error(ShellError::labeled_error(
+                                "Unable to read lines from stdout. This usually happens when the output does not end with a newline.",
+                                "unable to read from stdout",
+                                &stdout_name_tag,
+                            )),
+                            tag: stdout_name_tag.clone(),
+                        }));
+                        break;
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -547,21 +567,22 @@ fn spawn(
                 let cfg = crate::data::config::config(Tag::unknown());
                 if let Ok(cfg) = cfg {
                     if cfg.contains_key("nonzero_exit_errors") {
-                        yield Ok(Value {
-                            value: UntaggedValue::Error(
-                                ShellError::labeled_error(
-                                    "External command failed",
-                                    "command failed",
-                                    &name_tag,
-                                )
-                            ),
-                            tag: name_tag,
-                        });
+                        let _ = stdout_read_tx.send(Ok(Value {
+                            value: UntaggedValue::Error(ShellError::labeled_error(
+                                "External command failed",
+                                "command failed",
+                                &stdout_name_tag,
+                            )),
+                            tag: stdout_name_tag,
+                        }));
                     }
                 }
             }
-        };
 
+            Ok(())
+        });
+
+        let stream = ThreadedReceiver::new(rx);
         Ok(Some(stream.to_input_stream()))
     } else {
         Err(ShellError::labeled_error(
@@ -670,9 +691,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         let mut ctx = Context::basic().expect("There was a problem creating a basic context.");
 
-        assert!(run_external_command(cmd, &mut ctx, None, false)
-            .await
-            .is_err());
+        assert!(run_external_command(cmd, &mut ctx, None, false).is_err());
 
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/src/commands/classified/internal.rs b/src/commands/classified/internal.rs
index b9b6509d6..9fa1835df 100644
--- a/src/commands/classified/internal.rs
+++ b/src/commands/classified/internal.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use nu_errors::ShellError;
 use nu_parser::InternalCommand;
 use nu_protocol::{CommandAction, Primitive, ReturnSuccess, UntaggedValue, Value};
 
-pub(crate) async fn run_internal_command(
+pub(crate) fn run_internal_command(
     command: InternalCommand,
     context: &mut Context,
     input: Option<InputStream>,
diff --git a/src/commands/classified/pipeline.rs b/src/commands/classified/pipeline.rs
index 0bce8e744..d53067195 100644
--- a/src/commands/classified/pipeline.rs
+++ b/src/commands/classified/pipeline.rs
@@ -31,15 +31,15 @@ pub(crate) async fn run_pipeline(
             (_, Some(ClassifiedCommand::Error(err))) => return Err(err.clone().into()),
 
             (Some(ClassifiedCommand::Internal(left)), _) => {
-                run_internal_command(left, ctx, input, Text::from(line)).await?
+                run_internal_command(left, ctx, input, Text::from(line))?
             }
 
             (Some(ClassifiedCommand::External(left)), None) => {
-                run_external_command(left, ctx, input, true).await?
+                run_external_command(left, ctx, input, true)?
             }
 
             (Some(ClassifiedCommand::External(left)), _) => {
-                run_external_command(left, ctx, input, false).await?
+                run_external_command(left, ctx, input, false)?
             }
 
             (None, _) => break,
diff --git a/src/futures.rs b/src/futures.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8bfc7203c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/futures.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+use futures::stream::Stream;
+use std::pin::Pin;
+use std::sync::{mpsc, Arc, Mutex};
+use std::task::{self, Poll, Waker};
+use std::thread;
+
+#[allow(clippy::option_option)]
+struct SharedState<T: Send + 'static> {
+    result: Option<Option<T>>,
+    kill: bool,
+    waker: Option<Waker>,
+}
+
+pub struct ThreadedReceiver<T: Send + 'static> {
+    shared_state: Arc<Mutex<SharedState<T>>>,
+}
+
+impl<T: Send + 'static> ThreadedReceiver<T> {
+    pub fn new(recv: mpsc::Receiver<T>) -> ThreadedReceiver<T> {
+        let shared_state = Arc::new(Mutex::new(SharedState {
+            result: None,
+            kill: false,
+            waker: None,
+        }));
+
+        // Clone everything to avoid lifetimes
+        let thread_shared_state = shared_state.clone();
+        thread::spawn(move || {
+            loop {
+                let result = recv.recv();
+
+                {
+                    let mut shared_state = thread_shared_state
+                        .lock()
+                        .expect("ThreadedFuture shared state shouldn't be poisoned");
+
+                    if let Ok(result) = result {
+                        shared_state.result = Some(Some(result));
+                    } else {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Don't attempt to recv anything else until consumed
+                loop {
+                    let mut shared_state = thread_shared_state
+                        .lock()
+                        .expect("ThreadedFuture shared state shouldn't be poisoned");
+
+                    if shared_state.kill {
+                        return;
+                    }
+
+                    if shared_state.result.is_some() {
+                        if let Some(waker) = shared_state.waker.take() {
+                            waker.wake();
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Let the Stream implementation know that we're done
+            let mut shared_state = thread_shared_state
+                .lock()
+                .expect("ThreadedFuture shared state shouldn't be poisoned");
+
+            shared_state.result = Some(None);
+            if let Some(waker) = shared_state.waker.take() {
+                waker.wake();
+            }
+        });
+
+        ThreadedReceiver { shared_state }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Send + 'static> Stream for ThreadedReceiver<T> {
+    type Item = T;
+
+    fn poll_next(self: Pin<&mut Self>, cx: &mut task::Context<'_>) -> Poll<Option<Self::Item>> {
+        let mut shared_state = self
+            .shared_state
+            .lock()
+            .expect("ThreadedFuture shared state shouldn't be poisoned");
+
+        if let Some(result) = shared_state.result.take() {
+            Poll::Ready(result)
+        } else {
+            shared_state.waker = Some(cx.waker().clone());
+            Poll::Pending
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: Send + 'static> Drop for ThreadedReceiver<T> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        // Setting the kill flag to true will cause the thread spawned in `new` to exit, which
+        // will cause the `Receiver` argument to get dropped. This can allow senders to
+        // potentially clean up.
+        match self.shared_state.lock() {
+            Ok(mut state) => state.kill = true,
+            Err(mut poisoned_err) => poisoned_err.get_mut().kill = true,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    mod threaded_receiver {
+        use super::super::ThreadedReceiver;
+        use futures::executor::block_on_stream;
+        use std::sync::mpsc;
+
+        #[test]
+        fn returns_expected_result() {
+            let (tx, rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(0);
+            std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                let _ = tx.send(1);
+                let _ = tx.send(2);
+                let _ = tx.send(3);
+            });
+
+            let stream = ThreadedReceiver::new(rx);
+            let mut result = block_on_stream(stream);
+            assert_eq!(Some(1), result.next());
+            assert_eq!(Some(2), result.next());
+            assert_eq!(Some(3), result.next());
+            assert_eq!(None, result.next());
+        }
+
+        #[test]
+        fn drops_receiver_when_stream_dropped() {
+            let (tx, rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(0);
+            let th = std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                tx.send(1).and_then(|_| tx.send(2)).and_then(|_| tx.send(3))
+            });
+
+            {
+                let stream = ThreadedReceiver::new(rx);
+                let mut result = block_on_stream(stream);
+                assert_eq!(Some(1), result.next());
+            }
+            let result = th.join();
+            assert_eq!(true, result.unwrap().is_err());
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 1d376bc3d..7f76bdc1d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ mod deserializer;
 mod env;
 mod evaluate;
 mod format;
+mod futures;
 mod git;
 mod shell;
 mod stream;
diff --git a/tests/commands/touch.rs b/tests/commands/touch.rs
index 86a40dff8..c527a2143 100644
--- a/tests/commands/touch.rs
+++ b/tests/commands/touch.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,12 @@
-use nu_test_support::fs::Stub::EmptyFile;
 use nu_test_support::nu;
 use nu_test_support::playground::Playground;
 
 #[test]
-fn adds_a_file() {
-    Playground::setup("add_test_1", |dirs, sandbox| {
-        sandbox.with_files(vec![EmptyFile("i_will_be_created.txt")]);
-
+fn creates_a_file_when_it_doesnt_exist() {
+    Playground::setup("create_test_1", |dirs, _sandbox| {
         nu!(
-            cwd: dirs.root(),
-            "touch touch_test/i_will_be_created.txt"
+            cwd: dirs.test(),
+            "touch i_will_be_created.txt"
         );
 
         let path = dirs.test().join("i_will_be_created.txt");
diff --git a/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs b/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
index bb0230645..5b1dc8cf7 100644
--- a/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
+++ b/tests/shell/pipeline/commands/external.rs
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ mod it_evaluation {
 }
 
 mod stdin_evaluation {
-    use super::nu_error;
+    use super::{nu, nu_error};
     use nu_test_support::pipeline;
 
     #[test]
@@ -117,6 +117,21 @@ mod stdin_evaluation {
 
         assert_eq!(stderr, "");
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn does_not_block_indefinitely() {
+        let stdout = nu!(
+            cwd: ".",
+            pipeline(r#"
+                iecho yes
+                | chop
+                | chop
+                | first 1
+            "#
+        ));
+
+        assert_eq!(stdout, "y");
+    }
 }
 
 mod external_words {