diff --git a/babel-stream.lisp b/babel-stream.lisp
index b4688a4..3b41175 100644
--- a/babel-stream.lisp
+++ b/babel-stream.lisp
@@ -113,3 +113,11 @@
:stream (fd-stream:fd-output-stream 1))))
(write-sequence s "Hello, world ! ÉÀÖÛŸ")
(flush s))
+
+(defclass babel-io-stream (babel-input-stream babel-output-stream)
+ ())
+
+(defun babel-io-stream (stream &optional (external-format :utf-8))
+ (make-instance 'babel-io-stream
+ :external-format external-format
+ :stream stream))