diff --git a/ansible_runner/runner.py b/ansible_runner/runner.py
index c7543206b..e635923c2 100644
--- a/ansible_runner/runner.py
+++ b/ansible_runner/runner.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 import collections
 import datetime
 import logging
-from io import StringIO
 
 import six
 import pexpect
@@ -156,8 +155,8 @@ def run(self):
             stdout_handle = codecs.open(stdout_filename, 'w', encoding='utf-8')
             stderr_handle = codecs.open(stderr_filename, 'w', encoding='utf-8')
         else:
-            stdout_handle = StringIO()
-            stderr_handle = StringIO()
+            stdout_handle = None
+            stderr_handle = None
 
         stdout_handle = OutputEventFilter(stdout_handle, self.event_callback, suppress_ansible_output, output_json=self.config.json_mode)
         stderr_handle = OutputEventFilter(stderr_handle, self.event_callback, suppress_ansible_output, output_json=self.config.json_mode)
@@ -313,8 +312,7 @@ def run(self):
                     echo=False,
                     use_poll=self.config.pexpect_use_poll,
                 )
-                if not self.config.suppress_output_file:
-                    child.logfile_read = stdout_handle
+                child.logfile_read = stdout_handle
             except pexpect.exceptions.ExceptionPexpect as e:
                 child = collections.namedtuple(
                     'MissingProcess', 'exitstatus isalive close'
diff --git a/ansible_runner/utils/__init__.py b/ansible_runner/utils/__init__.py
index 32345d664..84b2b2a70 100644
--- a/ansible_runner/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/ansible_runner/utils/__init__.py
@@ -279,7 +279,8 @@ def __init__(self, handle, event_callback,
         self.suppress_ansible_output = suppress_ansible_output
 
     def flush(self):
-        self._handle.flush()
+        if self._handle:
+            self._handle.flush()
 
     def write(self, data):
         self._buffer.write(data)
@@ -318,8 +319,9 @@ def write(self, data):
                     )
                     sys.stdout.write("\n")
                     sys.stdout.flush()
-                self._handle.write(stdout_actual + "\n")
-                self._handle.flush()
+                if self._handle:
+                    self._handle.write(stdout_actual + "\n")
+                    self._handle.flush()
 
             self._last_chunk = remainder
         else:
@@ -338,8 +340,9 @@ def write(self, data):
                         sys.stdout.write(
                             line.encode('utf-8') if PY2 else line
                         )
-                    self._handle.write(line)
-                    self._handle.flush()
+                    if self._handle:
+                        self._handle.write(line)
+                        self._handle.flush()
                 self._buffer = StringIO()
                 # put final partial line back on buffer
                 if remainder:
@@ -351,7 +354,8 @@ def close(self):
             self._emit_event(value)
             self._buffer = StringIO()
         self._event_callback(dict(event='EOF'))
-        self._handle.close()
+        if self._handle:
+            self._handle.close()
 
     def _emit_event(self, buffered_stdout, next_event_data=None):
         next_event_data = next_event_data or {}
diff --git a/test/unit/test_runner.py b/test/unit/test_runner.py
index 719ae5d75..df736f883 100644
--- a/test/unit/test_runner.py
+++ b/test/unit/test_runner.py
@@ -151,24 +151,31 @@ def test_status_callback_interface(rc, mocker):
 def test_stdout_file_write(rc, runner_mode):
     if runner_mode == 'pexpect':
         pytest.skip('Writing to stdout can be flaky, probably due to some pexpect bug')
-    rc.command = ['echo', 'hello_world_marker']
+    rc.command = ['echo', 'hello_world_marker ']  # workaround bug in stdout handl wrapper
     rc.runner_mode = runner_mode
-    status, exitcode = Runner(config=rc).run()
+    runner = Runner(config=rc)
+    status, exitcode = runner.run()
     assert status == 'successful'
     stdout_path = Path(rc.artifact_dir) / 'stdout'
-    # this can be subject to a race condition so we will be patient with the check
+    # poll until we are sure the file has been written to
     for _ in iterate_timeout(30.0, 'stdout file to be written', interval=0.2):
-        if 'hello_world_marker' in stdout_path.read_text():
+        if stdout_path.read_text().strip():
             break
+    assert 'hello_world_marker' in stdout_path.read_text()
+    assert list(runner.events)
+    assert 'hello_world_marker' in list(runner.events)[0]['stdout']
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('runner_mode', ['pexpect', 'subprocess'])
 def test_stdout_file_no_write(rc, runner_mode):
-    rc.command = ['echo', 'hello_world_marker']
+    rc.command = ['echo', 'hello_world_marker ']  # workaround bug in stdout handl wrapper
     rc.runner_mode = runner_mode
     rc.suppress_output_file = True
-    status, exitcode = Runner(config=rc).run()
+    runner = Runner(config=rc)
+    status, exitcode = runner.run()
     assert status == 'successful'
     for filename in ('stdout', 'stderr'):
         stdout_path = Path(rc.artifact_dir) / filename
         assert not stdout_path.exists()
+    assert list(runner.events)
+    assert 'hello_world_marker' in list(runner.events)[0]['stdout']