diff --git a/src/createClientStream.js b/src/createClientStream.js
index 72dce01..5da8e8e 100644
--- a/src/createClientStream.js
+++ b/src/createClientStream.js
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ module.exports=createClientStream;
 function createClientStream(options) {
   assert.ok(options, "options is required");
   var stream = options.stream;
-  assert.ok(stream, "stream is required");
 
   assert.ok(options.username, "username is required");
   var keepAlive = options.keepAlive == null ? true : options.keepAlive;
@@ -32,7 +31,7 @@ function createClientStream(options) {
   client.on("set_compression", onCompressionRequest);
 
   client.username = options.username;
-  client.setSocket(stream);
+  if (stream) client.setSocket(stream);
 
   var timeout = null;
   return client;