diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/conversions/into/binary.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/conversions/into/binary.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c8fd24df77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/conversions/into/binary.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+use nu_test_support::nu;
+
+#[test]
+fn sets_stream_from_internal_command_as_binary() {
+    let result = nu!("seq 1 10 | to text | into binary | describe");
+    assert_eq!("binary (stream)", result.out);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn sets_stream_from_external_command_as_binary() {
+    let result = nu!("^nu --testbin cococo | into binary | describe");
+    assert_eq!("binary (stream)", result.out);
+}
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/conversions/into/mod.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/conversions/into/mod.rs
index a7a829445a..ad10199b5c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/conversions/into/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/conversions/into/mod.rs
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
+mod binary;
 mod int;
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/pipeline/pipeline_data.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/pipeline/pipeline_data.rs
index 03fbc64d21..c0c0bd1c33 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/pipeline/pipeline_data.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/pipeline/pipeline_data.rs
@@ -453,7 +453,10 @@ impl PipelineData {
     /// Currently this will consume an external command to completion.
     pub fn check_external_failed(self) -> Result<(Self, bool), ShellError> {
         if let PipelineData::ByteStream(stream, metadata) = self {
+            // Preserve stream attributes
             let span = stream.span();
+            let type_ = stream.type_();
+            let known_size = stream.known_size();
             match stream.into_child() {
                 Ok(mut child) => {
                     // Only check children without stdout. This means that nothing
@@ -485,10 +488,12 @@ impl PipelineData {
                             child.stderr = Some(ChildPipe::Tee(Box::new(Cursor::new(stderr))));
                         }
                         child.set_exit_code(code);
-                        let stream = ByteStream::child(child, span);
+                        let stream = ByteStream::child(child, span).with_type(type_);
                         Ok((PipelineData::ByteStream(stream, metadata), code != 0))
                     } else {
-                        let stream = ByteStream::child(child, span);
+                        let stream = ByteStream::child(child, span)
+                            .with_type(type_)
+                            .with_known_size(known_size);
                         Ok((PipelineData::ByteStream(stream, metadata), false))
                     }
                 }