diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/run.py b/Lib/idlelib/run.py
--- a/Lib/idlelib/run.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/run.py
@@ -293,6 +293,13 @@
         sys.stderr = PyShell.PseudoOutputFile(self.console, "stderr",
                 IOBinding.encoding)
 
+        # Follow sys.__stdxyz__ doc and prevent stream closure
+        # even if both sys references are rebound. See issue17838
+        sys.__stdin__ = sys.stdin
+        sys.__stdout__ = sys.stdout
+        sys.__stderr__ = sys.stderr
+        self._keep_alive = (sys.stdin, sys.stdout, sys.stderr)
+        
         sys.displayhook = rpc.displayhook
         # page help() text to shell.
         import pydoc # import must be done here to capture i/o binding