diff --git a/age.go b/age.go
index a4c2ad3d..d28aac84 100644
--- a/age.go
+++ b/age.go
@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ type Stanza struct {
 const fileKeySize = 16
 const streamNonceSize = 16
 
+var errNoRecipients = errors.New("no recipients specified")
+
 // Encrypt encrypts a file to one or more recipients.
 //
 // Writes to the returned WriteCloser are encrypted and written to dst as an age
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ const streamNonceSize = 16
 // be encrypted and flushed to dst.
 func Encrypt(dst io.Writer, recipients ...Recipient) (io.WriteCloser, error) {
 	if len(recipients) == 0 {
-		return nil, errors.New("no recipients specified")
+		return nil, errNoRecipients
 	}
 
 	fileKey := make([]byte, fileKeySize)
@@ -130,41 +132,73 @@ func Encrypt(dst io.Writer, recipients ...Recipient) (io.WriteCloser, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	if err := writeHeader(dst, recipients, fileKey); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to write header: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	nonce := make([]byte, streamNonceSize)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(nonce); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if _, err := dst.Write(nonce); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to write nonce: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return stream.NewWriter(streamKey(fileKey, nonce), dst)
+}
+
+// EncryptReader encrypts a reader to one or more recipients.
+//
+// It encrypts src into dst as an age file. Every recipient will be able to decrypt the file.
+func EncryptReader(dst io.Writer, src io.Reader, recipients ...Recipient) error {
+	if len(recipients) == 0 {
+		return errNoRecipients
+	}
+
+	fileKey := make([]byte, fileKeySize)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(fileKey); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := writeHeader(dst, recipients, fileKey); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write header: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	nonce := make([]byte, streamNonceSize)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(nonce); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if _, err := dst.Write(nonce); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write nonce: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return stream.Encrypt(dst, src, streamKey(fileKey, nonce))
+}
+
+func writeHeader(dst io.Writer, recipients []Recipient, fileKey []byte) error {
 	hdr := &format.Header{}
 	var labels []string
 	for i, r := range recipients {
 		stanzas, l, err := wrapWithLabels(r, fileKey)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to wrap key for recipient #%d: %v", i, err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to wrap key for recipient #%d: %v", i, err)
 		}
 		sort.Strings(l)
 		if i == 0 {
 			labels = l
 		} else if !slicesEqual(labels, l) {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("incompatible recipients")
+			return fmt.Errorf("incompatible recipients")
 		}
 		for _, s := range stanzas {
 			hdr.Recipients = append(hdr.Recipients, (*format.Stanza)(s))
 		}
 	}
 	if mac, err := headerMAC(fileKey, hdr); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to compute header MAC: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to compute header MAC: %v", err)
 	} else {
 		hdr.MAC = mac
 	}
-	if err := hdr.Marshal(dst); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to write header: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	nonce := make([]byte, streamNonceSize)
-	if _, err := rand.Read(nonce); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if _, err := dst.Write(nonce); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to write nonce: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	return stream.NewWriter(streamKey(fileKey, nonce), dst)
+	return hdr.Marshal(dst)
 }
 
 func wrapWithLabels(r Recipient, fileKey []byte) (s []*Stanza, labels []string, err error) {
diff --git a/age_test.go b/age_test.go
index 8cf68670..03786590 100644
--- a/age_test.go
+++ b/age_test.go
@@ -41,6 +41,26 @@ func ExampleEncrypt() {
 	// Encrypted file size: 219
 }
 
+func ExampleEncryptReader() {
+	publicKey := "age1cy0su9fwf3gf9mw868g5yut09p6nytfmmnktexz2ya5uqg9vl9sss4euqm"
+	recipient, err := age.ParseX25519Recipient(publicKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Failed to parse public key %q: %v", publicKey, err)
+	}
+
+	in := strings.NewReader("Black lives matter.")
+	out := &bytes.Buffer{}
+
+	err = age.EncryptReader(out, in, recipient)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("Failed to create encrypted file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("Encrypted file size: %d\n", out.Len())
+	// Output:
+	// Encrypted file size: 219
+}
+
 // DO NOT hardcode the private key. Store it in a secret storage solution,
 // on disk if the local machine is trusted, or have the user provide it.
 var privateKey string
@@ -189,6 +209,65 @@ func TestEncryptDecryptScrypt(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestEncryptReaderX25519(t *testing.T) {
+	a, err := age.GenerateX25519Identity()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	b, err := age.GenerateX25519Identity()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	err = age.EncryptReader(buf, strings.NewReader(helloWorld), a.Recipient(), b.Recipient())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	out, err := age.Decrypt(buf, b)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	outBytes, err := io.ReadAll(out)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if string(outBytes) != helloWorld {
+		t.Errorf("wrong data: %q, excepted %q", outBytes, helloWorld)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEncryptReaderScrypt(t *testing.T) {
+	password := "twitch.tv/filosottile"
+
+	r, err := age.NewScryptRecipient(password)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	r.SetWorkFactor(15)
+	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	err = age.EncryptReader(buf, strings.NewReader(helloWorld), r)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	i, err := age.NewScryptIdentity(password)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out, err := age.Decrypt(buf, i)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	outBytes, err := io.ReadAll(out)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if string(outBytes) != helloWorld {
+		t.Errorf("wrong data: %q, excepted %q", outBytes, helloWorld)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestParseIdentities(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name      string
diff --git a/cmd/age/age.go b/cmd/age/age.go
index e5d17e2b..aaf41f16 100644
--- a/cmd/age/age.go
+++ b/cmd/age/age.go
@@ -402,16 +402,10 @@ func encrypt(recipients []age.Recipient, in io.Reader, out io.Writer, withArmor
 		}()
 		out = a
 	}
-	w, err := age.Encrypt(out, recipients...)
+	err := age.EncryptReader(out, in, recipients...)
 	if err != nil {
 		errorf("%v", err)
 	}
-	if _, err := io.Copy(w, in); err != nil {
-		errorf("%v", err)
-	}
-	if err := w.Close(); err != nil {
-		errorf("%v", err)
-	}
 }
 
 // crlfMangledIntro and utf16MangledIntro are the intro lines of the age format
diff --git a/internal/stream/stream.go b/internal/stream/stream.go
index 7551274b..5ae5842b 100644
--- a/internal/stream/stream.go
+++ b/internal/stream/stream.go
@@ -215,16 +215,62 @@ const (
 )
 
 func (w *Writer) flushChunk(last bool) error {
-	if !last && len(w.unwritten) != ChunkSize {
-		panic("stream: internal error: flush called with partial chunk")
+	err := writeChunk(w.dst, w.a, &w.nonce, w.unwritten, last)
+	w.unwritten = w.buf[:0]
+	return err
+}
+
+func writeChunk(dst io.Writer, aead cipher.AEAD, nonce *[chacha20poly1305.NonceSize]byte, plaintext []byte, last bool) error {
+	if !last && len(plaintext) != ChunkSize {
+		panic("stream: internal error: writeChunk called with partial chunk")
 	}
 
 	if last {
-		setLastChunkFlag(&w.nonce)
+		setLastChunkFlag(nonce)
 	}
-	buf := w.a.Seal(w.buf[:0], w.nonce[:], w.unwritten, nil)
-	_, err := w.dst.Write(buf)
-	w.unwritten = w.buf[:0]
-	incNonce(&w.nonce)
+	buf := aead.Seal(plaintext[:0], nonce[:], plaintext, nil)
+	_, err := dst.Write(buf)
+	incNonce(nonce)
 	return err
 }
+
+func Encrypt(dst io.Writer, src io.Reader, key []byte) error {
+	aead, err := chacha20poly1305.New(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	var nonce [chacha20poly1305.NonceSize]byte
+	var bufs [2][encChunkSize]byte
+	var hasUnwritten bool
+
+	for unwritten, current := 0, 1; ; unwritten, current = current, unwritten {
+		n, err := io.ReadFull(src, bufs[current][:ChunkSize])
+		if err == io.EOF {
+			if hasUnwritten {
+				return writeChunk(dst, aead, &nonce, bufs[unwritten][:ChunkSize], lastChunk)
+			} else { // empty payload
+				return writeChunk(dst, aead, &nonce, bufs[current][:0], lastChunk)
+			}
+		} else if err == io.ErrUnexpectedEOF {
+			if hasUnwritten {
+				err := writeChunk(dst, aead, &nonce, bufs[unwritten][:ChunkSize], notLastChunk)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+			}
+			return writeChunk(dst, aead, &nonce, bufs[current][:n], lastChunk)
+		} else if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if hasUnwritten {
+			err := writeChunk(dst, aead, &nonce, bufs[unwritten][:ChunkSize], notLastChunk)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		} else {
+			hasUnwritten = true
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/stream/stream_test.go b/internal/stream/stream_test.go
index 8cac9674..c92f76b1 100644
--- a/internal/stream/stream_test.go
+++ b/internal/stream/stream_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"testing"
 
 	"filippo.io/age/internal/stream"
@@ -91,3 +92,42 @@ func testRoundTrip(t *testing.T, stepSize, length int) {
 		n += nn
 	}
 }
+
+func TestEncrypt(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, mul := range []int{0, 1, 2, 3} {
+		for _, add := range []int{0, 1, 2, 3, stream.ChunkSize - 1} {
+			length := mul*stream.ChunkSize + add
+
+			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("length=%d", length), func(t *testing.T) {
+				src := make([]byte, length)
+				if _, err := rand.Read(src); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+				buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
+				key := make([]byte, chacha20poly1305.KeySize)
+				if _, err := rand.Read(key); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+
+				err := stream.Encrypt(buf, bytes.NewReader(src), key)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+
+				r, err := stream.NewReader(key, buf)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+
+				dec, err := io.ReadAll(r)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+
+				if !bytes.Equal(src, dec) {
+					t.Errorf("Wrong decrypted data")
+				}
+			})
+		}
+	}
+}