diff --git a/lib/_debug_agent.js b/lib/_debug_agent.js
index d0e6dff257a655..221b6728a6995f 100644
--- a/lib/_debug_agent.js
+++ b/lib/_debug_agent.js
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ Agent.prototype.notifyWait = function notifyWait() {
 };
 
 function Client(agent, socket) {
-  Transform.call(this);
-  this._readableState.objectMode = true;
+  Transform.call(this, {
+    readableObjectMode: true
+  });
 
   this.agent = agent;
   this.binding = this.agent.binding;