diff --git a/cli/tests/unit/net_test.ts b/cli/tests/unit/net_test.ts
index b4a21578e2..930e4f0523 100644
--- a/cli/tests/unit/net_test.ts
+++ b/cli/tests/unit/net_test.ts
@@ -906,6 +906,55 @@ Deno.test({
   listener.close();
 });
 
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { net: true, read: true, run: true } },
+  async function netConnUnref() {
+    const listener = Deno.listen({ port: 3500 });
+    const intervalId = setInterval(() => {}); // This keeps event loop alive.
+
+    const program = execCode(`
+      async function main() {
+        const conn = await Deno.connect({ port: 3500 });
+        conn.unref();
+        await conn.read(new Uint8Array(10)); // The program exits here
+        throw new Error(); // The program doesn't reach here  
+      }
+      main();
+    `);
+    const conn = await listener.accept();
+    const [statusCode, _output] = await program;
+    conn.close();
+    listener.close();
+    clearInterval(intervalId);
+    assertEquals(statusCode, 0);
+  },
+);
+
+Deno.test(
+  { permissions: { net: true, read: true, run: true } },
+  async function netConnUnrefReadable() {
+    const listener = Deno.listen({ port: 3500 });
+    const intervalId = setInterval(() => {}); // This keeps event loop alive.
+
+    const program = execCode(`
+      async function main() {
+        const conn = await Deno.connect({ port: 3500 });
+        conn.unref();
+        const reader = conn.readable.getReader();
+        await reader.read(); // The program exits here
+        throw new Error(); // The program doesn't reach here  
+      }
+      main();
+    `);
+    const conn = await listener.accept();
+    const [statusCode, _output] = await program;
+    conn.close();
+    listener.close();
+    clearInterval(intervalId);
+    assertEquals(statusCode, 0);
+  },
+);
+
 Deno.test({ permissions: { net: true } }, async function netTcpReuseAddr() {
   const listener1 = Deno.listen({
     hostname: "127.0.0.1",
diff --git a/ext/net/01_net.js b/ext/net/01_net.js
index f25904e80d..244b50a51c 100644
--- a/ext/net/01_net.js
+++ b/ext/net/01_net.js
@@ -4,8 +4,12 @@
 ((window) => {
   const core = window.Deno.core;
   const { BadResourcePrototype, InterruptedPrototype, ops } = core;
-  const { readableStreamForRid, writableStreamForRid } =
-    window.__bootstrap.streams;
+  const {
+    readableStreamForRidUnrefable,
+    readableStreamForRidUnrefableRef,
+    readableStreamForRidUnrefableUnref,
+    writableStreamForRid,
+  } = window.__bootstrap.streams;
   const {
     Error,
     ObjectPrototypeIsPrototypeOf,
@@ -19,17 +23,6 @@
 
   const promiseIdSymbol = SymbolFor("Deno.core.internalPromiseId");
 
-  async function read(
-    rid,
-    buffer,
-  ) {
-    if (buffer.length === 0) {
-      return 0;
-    }
-    const nread = await core.read(rid, buffer);
-    return nread === 0 ? null : nread;
-  }
-
   async function write(rid, data) {
     return await core.write(rid, data);
   }
@@ -46,6 +39,8 @@
     #rid = 0;
     #remoteAddr = null;
     #localAddr = null;
+    #unref = false;
+    #pendingReadPromiseIds = [];
 
     #readable;
     #writable;
@@ -72,8 +67,25 @@
       return write(this.rid, p);
     }
 
-    read(p) {
-      return read(this.rid, p);
+    async read(buffer) {
+      if (buffer.length === 0) {
+        return 0;
+      }
+      const promise = core.read(this.rid, buffer);
+      const promiseId = promise[promiseIdSymbol];
+      if (this.#unref) core.unrefOp(promiseId);
+      this.#pendingReadPromiseIds.push(promiseId);
+      let nread;
+      try {
+        nread = await promise;
+      } catch (e) {
+        throw e;
+      } finally {
+        this.#pendingReadPromiseIds = this.#pendingReadPromiseIds.filter((id) =>
+          id !== promiseId
+        );
+      }
+      return nread === 0 ? null : nread;
     }
 
     close() {
@@ -86,7 +98,10 @@
 
     get readable() {
       if (this.#readable === undefined) {
-        this.#readable = readableStreamForRid(this.rid);
+        this.#readable = readableStreamForRidUnrefable(this.rid);
+        if (this.#unref) {
+          readableStreamForRidUnrefableUnref(this.#readable);
+        }
       }
       return this.#readable;
     }
@@ -97,6 +112,22 @@
       }
       return this.#writable;
     }
+
+    ref() {
+      this.#unref = false;
+      if (this.#readable) {
+        readableStreamForRidUnrefableRef(this.#readable);
+      }
+      this.#pendingReadPromiseIds.forEach((id) => core.refOp(id));
+    }
+
+    unref() {
+      this.#unref = true;
+      if (this.#readable) {
+        readableStreamForRidUnrefableUnref(this.#readable);
+      }
+      this.#pendingReadPromiseIds.forEach((id) => core.unrefOp(id));
+    }
   }
 
   class TcpConn extends Conn {
diff --git a/ext/net/lib.deno_net.d.ts b/ext/net/lib.deno_net.d.ts
index 639d0f8af0..136723262d 100644
--- a/ext/net/lib.deno_net.d.ts
+++ b/ext/net/lib.deno_net.d.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,20 @@ declare namespace Deno {
      * callers should just use `close()`. */
     closeWrite(): Promise<void>;
 
+    /** **UNSTABLE**: New API, yet to be vetted.
+     *
+     * Make the connection block the event loop from finishing.
+     *
+     * Note: the connection blocks the event loop from finishing by default.
+     * This method is only meaningful after `.unref()` is called.
+     */
+    ref(): void;
+    /** **UNSTABLE**: New API, yet to be vetted.
+     *
+     * Make the connection not block the event loop from finishing.
+     */
+    unref(): void;
+
     readonly readable: ReadableStream<Uint8Array>;
     readonly writable: WritableStream<Uint8Array>;
   }