diff --git a/packages/envd/internal/services/process/handler/handler.go b/packages/envd/internal/services/process/handler/handler.go
index 98108ea881..fca00c0b8f 100644
--- a/packages/envd/internal/services/process/handler/handler.go
+++ b/packages/envd/internal/services/process/handler/handler.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"os/user"
+	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -242,21 +243,25 @@ func New(
 
 			go logs.LogBufferedDataEvents(stdoutLogs, &stdoutLogger, "data")
 
+			// Reusable read buffer to avoid allocation per Read cycle when no
+			// subscribers are connected.
+			readBuf := make([]byte, stdChunkSize)
+
 			for {
-				buf := make([]byte, stdChunkSize)
+				n, readErr := stdout.Read(readBuf)
 
-				n, readErr := stdout.Read(buf)
+				if n > 0 && outMultiplex.HasSubscribers() {
+					data := slices.Clone(readBuf[:n])
 
-				if n > 0 {
 					outMultiplex.Source <- rpc.ProcessEvent_Data{
 						Data: &rpc.ProcessEvent_DataEvent{
 							Output: &rpc.ProcessEvent_DataEvent_Stdout{
-								Stdout: buf[:n],
+								Stdout: data,
 							},
 						},
 					}
 
-					stdoutLogs <- buf[:n]
+					stdoutLogs <- data
 				}
 
 				if errors.Is(readErr, io.EOF) {
@@ -284,21 +289,23 @@ func New(
 
 			go logs.LogBufferedDataEvents(stderrLogs, &stderrLogger, "data")
 
+			readBuf := make([]byte, stdChunkSize)
+
 			for {
-				buf := make([]byte, stdChunkSize)
+				n, readErr := stderr.Read(readBuf)
 
-				n, readErr := stderr.Read(buf)
+				if n > 0 && outMultiplex.HasSubscribers() {
+					data := slices.Clone(readBuf[:n])
 
-				if n > 0 {
 					outMultiplex.Source <- rpc.ProcessEvent_Data{
 						Data: &rpc.ProcessEvent_DataEvent{
 							Output: &rpc.ProcessEvent_DataEvent_Stderr{
-								Stderr: buf[:n],
+								Stderr: data,
 							},
 						},
 					}
 
-					stderrLogs <- buf[:n]
+					stderrLogs <- data
 				}
 
 				if errors.Is(readErr, io.EOF) {
diff --git a/packages/envd/internal/services/process/handler/multiplex.go b/packages/envd/internal/services/process/handler/multiplex.go
index ff699812db..9b9b3ad12d 100644
--- a/packages/envd/internal/services/process/handler/multiplex.go
+++ b/packages/envd/internal/services/process/handler/multiplex.go
@@ -84,6 +84,20 @@ func (m *MultiplexedChannel[T]) run() {
 	m.channels = nil
 }
 
+// HasSubscribers reports whether any non-cancelled subscriber exists.
+func (m *MultiplexedChannel[T]) HasSubscribers() bool {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	for _, s := range m.channels {
+		if !s.isCancelled() {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
 // Fork registers a new subscriber and returns its channel plus a cancel func.
 // If Source is already closed it returns a pre-closed channel and a no-op cancel.
 // The channel is bidirectional for backwards compat with start.go which writes
diff --git a/packages/envd/pkg/version.go b/packages/envd/pkg/version.go
index e251abd82f..01857d46e4 100644
--- a/packages/envd/pkg/version.go
+++ b/packages/envd/pkg/version.go
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 package pkg
 
-const Version = "0.5.18"
+const Version = "0.5.19"