diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6dc11ba..73ecd03 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -413,6 +413,15 @@ with an `EINTEGRITY` error.
 
 `algorithms` has no effect if this option is present.
 
+##### `opts.integrityEmitter`
+
+*Streaming only* If present, uses the provided event emitter as a source of
+truth for both integrity and size. This allows use cases where integrity is
+already being calculated outside of cacache to reuse that data instead of
+calculating it a second time.
+
+The emitter must emit both the `'integrity'` and `'size'` events.
+
 ##### `opts.algorithms`
 
 Default: ['sha512']
diff --git a/lib/content/write.js b/lib/content/write.js
index a877710..568d8ad 100644
--- a/lib/content/write.js
+++ b/lib/content/write.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const events = require('events')
 const util = require('util')
 
 const contentPath = require('./path')
@@ -116,17 +117,31 @@ async function handleContent (inputStream, cache, opts) {
 async function pipeToTmp (inputStream, cache, tmpTarget, opts) {
   let integrity
   let size
-  const hashStream = ssri.integrityStream({
-    integrity: opts.integrity,
-    algorithms: opts.algorithms,
-    size: opts.size,
-  })
-  hashStream.on('integrity', i => {
-    integrity = i
-  })
-  hashStream.on('size', s => {
-    size = s
-  })
+  let hashStream
+  let integrityEmitted, sizeEmitted
+  if (opts.integrityEmitter) {
+    integrityEmitted = events.once(opts.integrityEmitter, 'integrity')
+    opts.integrityEmitter.on('integrity', i => {
+      integrity = i
+    })
+
+    sizeEmitted = events.once(opts.integrityEmitter, 'size')
+    opts.integrityEmitter.on('size', s => {
+      size = s
+    })
+  } else {
+    hashStream = ssri.integrityStream({
+      integrity: opts.integrity,
+      algorithms: opts.algorithms,
+      size: opts.size,
+    })
+    hashStream.on('integrity', i => {
+      integrity = i
+    })
+    hashStream.on('size', s => {
+      size = s
+    })
+  }
 
   const outStream = new fsm.WriteStream(tmpTarget, {
     flags: 'wx',
@@ -135,13 +150,17 @@ async function pipeToTmp (inputStream, cache, tmpTarget, opts) {
   // NB: this can throw if the hashStream has a problem with
   // it, and the data is fully written.  but pipeToTmp is only
   // called in promisory contexts where that is handled.
-  const pipeline = new Pipeline(
-    inputStream,
-    hashStream,
-    outStream
-  )
+  const pipeline = opts.integrityEmitter
+    ? new Pipeline(inputStream, outStream)
+    : new Pipeline(inputStream, hashStream, outStream)
 
   await pipeline.promise()
+  if (opts.integrityEmitter) {
+    await Promise.all([
+      integrityEmitted,
+      sizeEmitted,
+    ])
+  }
   return { integrity, size }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/content/write.js b/test/content/write.js
index f565767..787fb65 100644
--- a/test/content/write.js
+++ b/test/content/write.js
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 'use strict'
 
+const events = require('events')
 const fs = require('@npmcli/fs')
+const Minipass = require('minipass')
 const path = require('path')
 const rimraf = require('rimraf')
 const ssri = require('ssri')
@@ -32,6 +34,62 @@ t.test('basic put', (t) => {
     })
 })
 
+t.test('basic put, providing external integrity emitter', async (t) => {
+  const CACHE = t.testdir()
+  const CONTENT = 'foobarbaz'
+  const INTEGRITY = ssri.fromData(CONTENT)
+
+  const write = t.mock('../../lib/content/write.js', {
+    ssri: {
+      ...ssri,
+      integrityStream: () => {
+        throw new Error('Should not be called')
+      },
+    },
+  })
+
+  const source = new Minipass().end(CONTENT)
+
+  const tee = new Minipass()
+
+  const integrityStream = ssri.integrityStream()
+  // since the integrityStream is not going anywhere, we need to manually resume it
+  // otherwise it'll get stuck in paused mode and will never process any data events
+  integrityStream.resume()
+  const integrityStreamP = Promise.all([
+    events.once(integrityStream, 'integrity').then((res) => res[0]),
+    events.once(integrityStream, 'size').then((res) => res[0]),
+  ])
+
+  const contentStream = write.stream(CACHE, { integrityEmitter: integrityStream })
+  const contentStreamP = Promise.all([
+    events.once(contentStream, 'integrity').then((res) => res[0]),
+    events.once(contentStream, 'size').then((res) => res[0]),
+    contentStream.promise(),
+  ])
+
+  tee.pipe(integrityStream)
+  tee.pipe(contentStream)
+  source.pipe(tee)
+
+  const [
+    [ssriIntegrity, ssriSize],
+    [contentIntegrity, contentSize],
+  ] = await Promise.all([
+    integrityStreamP,
+    contentStreamP,
+  ])
+
+  t.equal(ssriSize, CONTENT.length, 'ssri got the right size')
+  t.equal(contentSize, CONTENT.length, 'content got the right size')
+  t.same(ssriIntegrity, INTEGRITY, 'ssri got the right integrity')
+  t.same(contentIntegrity, INTEGRITY, 'content got the right integrity')
+
+  const cpath = contentPath(CACHE, ssriIntegrity)
+  t.ok(fs.lstatSync(cpath).isFile(), 'content inserted as a single file')
+  t.equal(fs.readFileSync(cpath, 'utf8'), CONTENT, 'contents are identical to inserted content')
+})
+
 t.test("checks input digest doesn't match data", (t) => {
   const CONTENT = 'foobarbaz'
   const integrity = ssri.fromData(CONTENT)