diff --git a/src/estream.c b/src/estream.c
--- a/src/estream.c
+++ b/src/estream.c
@@ -964,6 +964,9 @@
   int fd;        /* The file descriptor we are using for actual output.  */
   int no_close;  /* If set we won't close the file descriptor.  */
   int nonblock;  /* Non-blocking mode is enabled.  */
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+  int no_syscall_clamp; /* Do not use the syscall clamp. */
+#endif
 } *estream_cookie_fd_t;
 
 
@@ -971,7 +974,8 @@
  * Create function for objects indentified by a libc file descriptor.
  */
 static int
-func_fd_create (void **cookie, int fd, unsigned int modeflags, int no_close)
+func_fd_create (void **cookie, int fd, unsigned int modeflags, int no_close,
+                int no_syscall_clamp)
 {
   estream_cookie_fd_t fd_cookie;
   int err;
@@ -991,6 +995,11 @@
       fd_cookie->fd = fd;
       fd_cookie->no_close = no_close;
       fd_cookie->nonblock = !!(modeflags & O_NONBLOCK);
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+      fd_cookie->no_syscall_clamp = no_syscall_clamp;
+#else
+      (void)no_syscall_clamp;
+#endif
       *cookie = fd_cookie;
       err = 0;
     }
@@ -1021,12 +1030,18 @@
     }
   else
     {
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+      if (!file_cookie->no_syscall_clamp)
+#endif
       _gpgrt_pre_syscall ();
       do
         {
           bytes_read = read (file_cookie->fd, buffer, size);
         }
       while (bytes_read == -1 && errno == EINTR);
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+      if (!file_cookie->no_syscall_clamp)
+#endif
       _gpgrt_post_syscall ();
     }
 
@@ -1053,12 +1068,18 @@
     }
   else if (buffer)
     {
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+      if (!file_cookie->no_syscall_clamp)
+#endif
       _gpgrt_pre_syscall ();
       do
         {
           bytes_written = write (file_cookie->fd, buffer, size);
         }
       while (bytes_written == -1 && errno == EINTR);
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+      if (!file_cookie->no_syscall_clamp)
+#endif
       _gpgrt_post_syscall ();
     }
   else
@@ -1087,8 +1108,14 @@
     }
   else
     {
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+      if (!file_cookie->no_syscall_clamp)
+#endif
       _gpgrt_pre_syscall ();
       offset_new = lseek (file_cookie->fd, *offset, whence);
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+      if (!file_cookie->no_syscall_clamp)
+#endif
       _gpgrt_post_syscall ();
       if (offset_new == -1)
         err = -1;
@@ -2201,12 +2228,19 @@
   stream_internal_new = NULL;
 
 #if HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
-  if ((xmode & X_POLLABLE) && kind != BACKEND_W32)
-    {
-      /* We require the W32 backend, because only that allows us to
-       * write directly using the native W32 API and to disable the
-       * system clamp.  Note that func_w32_create has already been
-       * called with the flag to disable the system call clamp.  */
+  if ((xmode & X_POLLABLE)
+      && !(kind == BACKEND_W32 || kind == BACKEND_FD))
+    {
+      /*
+       * W32 backend is supported, because it allows us to write
+       * directly using the native W32 API and to disable the system
+       * clamp.
+       *
+       * FD backend is also supported, disabling system clamp.
+       *
+       * Note that func_fd_create/func_w32_create has already been
+       * called with the flag to disable the system call clamp.
+       */
       _set_errno (EINVAL);
       err = -1;
       goto out;
@@ -3417,7 +3451,8 @@
       goto out;
     }
 
-  err = func_fd_create (&cookie, filedes, modeflags, no_close);
+  err = func_fd_create (&cookie, filedes, modeflags, no_close,
+                        !!(xmode & X_POLLABLE));
   if (err)
     goto out;
 
@@ -4759,7 +4794,7 @@
       goto out;
     }
 
-  err = func_fd_create (&cookie, fd, modeflags, 0);
+  err = func_fd_create (&cookie, fd, modeflags, 0, 0);
   if (err)
     goto out;