diff --git a/actions/transform.go b/actions/transform.go
index ce2c8ecaf..18543f21c 100644
--- a/actions/transform.go
+++ b/actions/transform.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 // ExecTransform executes a designated transformation
 func ExecTransform(node *p2p.QriNode, ds *dataset.Dataset, infile cafs.File, secrets map[string]string) (file cafs.File, err error) {
 	filepath := ds.Transform.ScriptPath
-	rr, err := skytf.ExecFile(ds, filepath, infile, func(o *skytf.ExecOpts) {
+	rr, err := skytf.ExecFile(ds, filepath, infile, skytf.AddQriNodeOpt(node), func(o *skytf.ExecOpts) {
 		if secrets != nil {
 			// convert to map[string]interface{}, which the lower-level skytf supports
 			// until we're sure map[string]string is going to work in the majority of use cases
diff --git a/cmd/qri.go b/cmd/qri.go
index 1c86d6ef7..5ab92c456 100644
--- a/cmd/qri.go
+++ b/cmd/qri.go
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ func (o *QriOptions) init() (err error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			return
 		}
+		o.node.LocalStreams = p2p.IOStreams(o.IOStreams)
 	}
 	o.initialized.Do(initBody)
 	return err
diff --git a/p2p/node.go b/p2p/node.go
index deccc49e5..fa50d2082 100644
--- a/p2p/node.go
+++ b/p2p/node.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package p2p
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/qri-io/cafs/ipfs"
@@ -48,17 +49,33 @@ type QriNode struct {
 	// ipfs node provided by repo
 	Repo repo.Repo
 
-	// handlers maps this nodes registered handlers. This works in a way similary to a router
-	// in traditional client/server models, but messages are flying around all over the place
-	// instead of a request/response pattern
+	// handlers maps this nodes registered handlers. This works in a way
+	// similary to a router in traditional client/server models, but messages
+	// are flying around all over the place instead of a
+	// request/response pattern
 	handlers map[MsgType]HandlerFunc
 
 	// msgState keeps a "scratch pad" of message IDS & timeouts
 	msgState *sync.Map
 	// msgChan provides a channel of received messages for others to tune into
 	msgChan chan Message
-	// receivers is a list of anyone who wants to be notifed on new message arrival
+	// receivers is a list of anyone who wants to be notifed on new
+	// message arrival
 	receivers []chan Message
+
+	// node keeps a set of IOStreams for "node local" io, often to the
+	// command line, to give feedback to the user. These may be piped to
+	// local http handlers/websockets/stdio, but these streams are meant for
+	// local feedback as opposed to p2p connections
+	LocalStreams IOStreams
+}
+
+// IOStreams provides the standard names for iostreams.  This is useful for embedding and for unit testing.
+// Inconsistent and different names make it hard to read and review code
+type IOStreams struct {
+	In     io.Reader
+	Out    io.Writer
+	ErrOut io.Writer
 }
 
 // Assert that conversions needed by the tests are valid.