diff --git a/libpod/container_top_linux.go b/libpod/container_top_linux.go
index 1da4919398..e460902083 100644
--- a/libpod/container_top_linux.go
+++ b/libpod/container_top_linux.go
@@ -355,16 +355,10 @@ func (c *Container) execPSinContainer(args []string) ([]string, error) {
 	defer wPipe.Close()
 	defer rPipe.Close()
 
-	rErrPipe, wErrPipe, err := os.Pipe()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	defer wErrPipe.Close()
-	defer rErrPipe.Close()
-
+	var errBuf bytes.Buffer
 	streams := new(define.AttachStreams)
 	streams.OutputStream = wPipe
-	streams.ErrorStream = wErrPipe
+	streams.ErrorStream = &errBuf
 	streams.AttachOutput = true
 	streams.AttachError = true
 
@@ -375,13 +369,6 @@ func (c *Container) execPSinContainer(args []string) ([]string, error) {
 			stdout = append(stdout, scanner.Text())
 		}
 	}()
-	stderr := []string{}
-	go func() {
-		scanner := bufio.NewScanner(rErrPipe)
-		for scanner.Scan() {
-			stderr = append(stderr, scanner.Text())
-		}
-	}()
 
 	cmd := append([]string{"ps"}, args...)
 	config := new(ExecConfig)
@@ -390,15 +377,13 @@ func (c *Container) execPSinContainer(args []string) ([]string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	} else if ec != 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("runtime failed with exit status: %d and output: %s", ec, strings.Join(stderr, " "))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("runtime failed with exit status: %d and output: %s", ec, errBuf.String())
 	}
 
 	if logrus.GetLevel() >= logrus.DebugLevel {
 		// If we're running in debug mode or higher, we might want to have a
 		// look at stderr which includes debug logs from conmon.
-		for _, log := range stderr {
-			logrus.Debugf("%s", log)
-		}
+		logrus.Debugf(errBuf.String())
 	}
 
 	return stdout, nil
diff --git a/libpod/define/config.go b/libpod/define/config.go
index 7295f1425e..e5729d47ea 100644
--- a/libpod/define/config.go
+++ b/libpod/define/config.go
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ const (
 // AttachStreams contains streams that will be attached to the container
 type AttachStreams struct {
 	// OutputStream will be attached to container's STDOUT
-	OutputStream io.WriteCloser
+	OutputStream io.Writer
 	// ErrorStream will be attached to container's STDERR
-	ErrorStream io.WriteCloser
+	ErrorStream io.Writer
 	// InputStream will be attached to container's STDIN
 	InputStream *bufio.Reader
 	// AttachOutput is whether to attach to STDOUT
diff --git a/pkg/bindings/containers/types.go b/pkg/bindings/containers/types.go
index 6b25aae7e3..eaab8b76ec 100644
--- a/pkg/bindings/containers/types.go
+++ b/pkg/bindings/containers/types.go
@@ -295,9 +295,9 @@ type ResizeExecTTYOptions struct {
 //go:generate go run ../generator/generator.go ExecStartAndAttachOptions
 type ExecStartAndAttachOptions struct {
 	// OutputStream will be attached to container's STDOUT
-	OutputStream *io.WriteCloser
+	OutputStream *io.Writer
 	// ErrorStream will be attached to container's STDERR
-	ErrorStream *io.WriteCloser
+	ErrorStream *io.Writer
 	// InputStream will be attached to container's STDIN
 	InputStream *bufio.Reader
 	// AttachOutput is whether to attach to STDOUT
diff --git a/pkg/bindings/containers/types_execstartandattach_options.go b/pkg/bindings/containers/types_execstartandattach_options.go
index df7ac45d1c..759676f2ff 100644
--- a/pkg/bindings/containers/types_execstartandattach_options.go
+++ b/pkg/bindings/containers/types_execstartandattach_options.go
@@ -20,30 +20,30 @@ func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) ToParams() (url.Values, error) {
 }
 
 // WithOutputStream set field OutputStream to given value
-func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) WithOutputStream(value io.WriteCloser) *ExecStartAndAttachOptions {
+func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) WithOutputStream(value io.Writer) *ExecStartAndAttachOptions {
 	o.OutputStream = &value
 	return o
 }
 
 // GetOutputStream returns value of field OutputStream
-func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) GetOutputStream() io.WriteCloser {
+func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) GetOutputStream() io.Writer {
 	if o.OutputStream == nil {
-		var z io.WriteCloser
+		var z io.Writer
 		return z
 	}
 	return *o.OutputStream
 }
 
 // WithErrorStream set field ErrorStream to given value
-func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) WithErrorStream(value io.WriteCloser) *ExecStartAndAttachOptions {
+func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) WithErrorStream(value io.Writer) *ExecStartAndAttachOptions {
 	o.ErrorStream = &value
 	return o
 }
 
 // GetErrorStream returns value of field ErrorStream
-func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) GetErrorStream() io.WriteCloser {
+func (o *ExecStartAndAttachOptions) GetErrorStream() io.Writer {
 	if o.ErrorStream == nil {
-		var z io.WriteCloser
+		var z io.Writer
 		return z
 	}
 	return *o.ErrorStream