diff --git a/glanceclient/v1/shell.py b/glanceclient/v1/shell.py
index d1a1acee..71882aa4 100644
--- a/glanceclient/v1/shell.py
+++ b/glanceclient/v1/shell.py
@@ -122,12 +122,12 @@ def _set_data_field(fields, args):
             # (3) no image data provided:
             #     glance ...
             try:
-                stat_result = os.fstat(0)
+                os.fstat(0)
             except OSError:
                 # (1) stdin is not valid (closed...)
                 fields['data'] = None
                 return
-            if not sys.stdin.isatty() and stat_result.st_size != 0:
+            if not sys.stdin.isatty():
                 # (2) image data is provided through standard input
                 if msvcrt:
                     msvcrt.setmode(sys.stdin.fileno(), os.O_BINARY)
@@ -295,7 +295,8 @@ def do_image_update(gc, args):
     UPDATE_PARAMS = glanceclient.v1.images.UPDATE_PARAMS
     fields = dict(filter(lambda x: x[0] in UPDATE_PARAMS, fields.items()))
 
-    _set_data_field(fields, args)
+    if image.status == 'queued':
+        _set_data_field(fields, args)
 
     image = gc.images.update(image, purge_props=args.purge_props, **fields)
     _image_show(image, args.human_readable)
diff --git a/tests/v1/test_shell.py b/tests/v1/test_shell.py
index a478b8c0..88ad3e39 100644
--- a/tests/v1/test_shell.py
+++ b/tests/v1/test_shell.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import argparse
 import json
 import os
+import subprocess
 import tempfile
 import testtools
 
@@ -385,23 +386,8 @@ class ShellStdinHandlingTests(testtools.TestCase):
             or self.collected_args[1]['data'] is None
         )
 
-    def test_image_update_empty_stdin(self):
-        """Supply glanceclient with an open but empty stdin, and perform an
-        image update to an active image. Glanceclient should not attempt to
-        read stdin.
-        """
-
-        self._do_update()
-
-        self.assertTrue(
-            'data' not in self.collected_args[1]
-            or self.collected_args[1]['data'] is None
-        )
-
-    def test_image_update_data_is_read(self):
-        """Ensure that data is read from stdin when image is in queued
-        status and data is available.
-        """
+    def test_image_update_data_is_read_from_file(self):
+        """Ensure that data is read from a file."""
 
         try:
 
@@ -417,6 +403,8 @@ class ShellStdinHandlingTests(testtools.TestCase):
 
             self.assertTrue('data' in self.collected_args[1])
             self.assertIsInstance(self.collected_args[1]['data'], file)
+            self.assertEqual(self.collected_args[1]['data'].read(),
+                             'Some Data')
 
         finally:
             try:
@@ -424,3 +412,27 @@ class ShellStdinHandlingTests(testtools.TestCase):
                 os.remove(f.name)
             except:
                 pass
+
+    def test_image_update_data_is_read_from_pipe(self):
+        """Ensure that data is read from a pipe."""
+
+        try:
+
+            # NOTE(hughsaunders): Setup a pipe, duplicate it to stdin
+            # ensure it is read.
+            process = subprocess.Popen(['/bin/echo', 'Some Data'],
+                                       stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+            os.dup2(process.stdout.fileno(), 0)
+
+            self._do_update('44d2c7e1-de4e-4612-8aa2-ba26610c444f')
+
+            self.assertTrue('data' in self.collected_args[1])
+            self.assertIsInstance(self.collected_args[1]['data'], file)
+            self.assertEqual(self.collected_args[1]['data'].read(),
+                             'Some Data\n')
+
+        finally:
+            try:
+                process.stdout.close()
+            except:
+                pass