diff --git a/dist/streams.js b/dist/streams.js
index c9d6ef9b..1b031b76 100644
--- a/dist/streams.js
+++ b/dist/streams.js
@@ -8,10 +8,7 @@ const finisherByte = 59; // ;
 class MetacomChunk {
   static encode(streamId, payload) {
     const metadata = encoder.encode(`mc:${streamId};`);
-    const byteView = new Uint8Array(metadata.length + payload.length);
-    byteView.set(metadata);
-    byteView.set(payload, metadata.length);
-    return byteView;
+    return this.merge(metadata, payload);
   }
 
   static decode(byteView) {
@@ -32,12 +29,20 @@ class MetacomChunk {
     }
     throw new Error('Invalid chunk metadata: ' + metadata);
   }
+
+  static merge(ch1, ch2) {
+    const result = new Uint8Array(ch1.length + ch2.length);
+    result.set(ch1);
+    result.set(ch2, ch1.length);
+    return result;
+  }
 }
 
 const PUSH_EVENT = Symbol();
 const PULL_EVENT = Symbol();
 const DEFAULT_HIGH_WATER_MARK = 32;
 const MAX_HIGH_WATER_MARK = 1000;
+const MIN_CHUNK_SIZE = 1024 * 1024;
 
 class MetacomReadable extends EventEmitter {
   constructor(initData, options = {}) {
@@ -155,6 +160,7 @@ class MetacomWritable extends EventEmitter {
     this.streamId = initData.streamId;
     this.name = initData.name;
     this.size = initData.size;
+    this.chunk = null;
     this.init();
   }
 
@@ -168,11 +174,18 @@ class MetacomWritable extends EventEmitter {
   }
 
   write(data) {
-    const chunk = MetacomChunk.encode(this.streamId, data);
+    this.chunk = this.chunk ? MetacomChunk.merge(this.chunk, data) : data;
+    if (this.chunk.length >= MIN_CHUNK_SIZE) this.drain();
+  }
+
+  drain() {
+    const chunk = MetacomChunk.encode(this.streamId, this.chunk);
     this.transport.send(chunk);
+    this.chunk = null;
   }
 
   end() {
+    if (this.chunk) this.drain();
     const packet = { stream: this.streamId, status: 'end' };
     this.transport.send(JSON.stringify(packet));
   }
diff --git a/lib/streams.js b/lib/streams.js
index 69168558..e69b4edd 100644
--- a/lib/streams.js
+++ b/lib/streams.js
@@ -16,10 +16,7 @@ const finisherByte = 59; // ;
 class MetacomChunk {
   static encode(streamId, payload) {
     const metadata = encoder.encode(`mc:${streamId};`);
-    const byteView = new Uint8Array(metadata.length + payload.length);
-    byteView.set(metadata);
-    byteView.set(payload, metadata.length);
-    return byteView;
+    return this.merge(metadata, payload);
   }
 
   static decode(byteView) {
@@ -40,12 +37,20 @@ class MetacomChunk {
     }
     throw new Error('Invalid chunk metadata: ' + metadata);
   }
+
+  static merge(ch1, ch2) {
+    const result = new Uint8Array(ch1.length + ch2.length);
+    result.set(ch1);
+    result.set(ch2, ch1.length);
+    return result;
+  }
 }
 
 const PUSH_EVENT = Symbol();
 const PULL_EVENT = Symbol();
 const DEFAULT_HIGH_WATER_MARK = 32;
 const MAX_HIGH_WATER_MARK = 1000;
+const MIN_CHUNK_SIZE = 1024 * 1024;
 
 class MetacomReadable extends EventEmitter {
   constructor(initData, options = {}) {
@@ -164,6 +169,7 @@ class MetacomWritable extends EventEmitter {
     this.streamId = initData.streamId;
     this.name = initData.name;
     this.size = initData.size;
+    this.chunk = null;
     this.init();
   }
 
@@ -178,13 +184,20 @@ class MetacomWritable extends EventEmitter {
 
   // implements nodejs writable write method
   write(data) {
-    const chunk = MetacomChunk.encode(this.streamId, data);
-    this.transport.send(chunk);
+    this.chunk = this.chunk ? MetacomChunk.merge(this.chunk, data) : data;
+    if (this.chunk.length >= MIN_CHUNK_SIZE) this.drain();
     return true;
   }
 
+  drain() {
+    const chunk = MetacomChunk.encode(this.streamId, this.chunk);
+    this.transport.send(chunk);
+    this.chunk = null;
+  }
+
   // implements nodejs writable end method
   end() {
+    if (this.chunk) this.drain();
     const packet = { stream: this.streamId, status: 'end' };
     this.transport.send(JSON.stringify(packet));
   }