diff -r 51dc9b2a5b35 Lib/codecs.py
--- a/Lib/codecs.py	Fri Jan 10 15:08:07 2014 +0200
+++ b/Lib/codecs.py	Fri Jan 10 21:40:19 2014 +0200
@@ -475,14 +475,11 @@
         # read until we get the required number of characters (if available)
         while True:
             # can the request be satisfied from the character buffer?
-            if chars < 0:
-                if size < 0:
-                    if self.charbuffer:
-                        break
-                elif len(self.charbuffer) >= size:
+            if chars >= 0:
+                if len(self.charbuffer) >= chars:
                     break
-            else:
-                if len(self.charbuffer) >= chars:
+            elif size >= 0:
+                if len(self.charbuffer) >= size:
                     break
             # we need more data
             if size < 0:
@@ -491,6 +488,8 @@
                 newdata = self.stream.read(size)
             # decode bytes (those remaining from the last call included)
             data = self.bytebuffer + newdata
+            if not data:
+                break
             try:
                 newchars, decodedbytes = self.decode(data, self.errors)
             except UnicodeDecodeError as exc:
diff -r 51dc9b2a5b35 Lib/test/test_codecs.py
--- a/Lib/test/test_codecs.py	Fri Jan 10 15:08:07 2014 +0200
+++ b/Lib/test/test_codecs.py	Fri Jan 10 21:40:19 2014 +0200
@@ -175,6 +175,40 @@
                         size*"a",
                     )
 
+    def test_mixed_readline_and_read(self):
+        lines = ["Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,\n",
+                 "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.\r\n",
+                 "All the king's horses and all the king's men\r",
+                 "Couldn't put Humpty together again."]
+        data = ''.join(lines)
+        def getreader():
+            stream = io.BytesIO(data.encode(self.encoding))
+            return codecs.getreader(self.encoding)(stream)
+
+        # Issue #8260: Test readline() followed by read()
+        f = getreader()
+        self.assertEqual(f.readline(), lines[0])
+        self.assertEqual(f.read(), ''.join(lines[1:]))
+        self.assertEqual(f.read(), '')
+
+        # Issue #16636: Test readline() followed by readlines()
+        f = getreader()
+        self.assertEqual(f.readline(), lines[0])
+        self.assertEqual(f.readlines(), lines[1:])
+        self.assertEqual(f.read(), '')
+
+        # Test read() followed by read()
+        f = getreader()
+        self.assertEqual(f.read(size=40, chars=5), data[:5])
+        self.assertEqual(f.read(), data[5:])
+        self.assertEqual(f.read(), '')
+
+        # Issue #12446: Test read() followed by readlines()
+        f = getreader()
+        self.assertEqual(f.read(size=40, chars=5), data[:5])
+        self.assertEqual(f.readlines(), [lines[0][5:]] + lines[1:])
+        self.assertEqual(f.read(), '')
+
     def test_bug1175396(self):
         s = [
             '<%!--===================================================\r\n',