diff --git a/src/net/cgrand/xforms.clj b/src/net/cgrand/xforms.clj
index 95222bc..1fd432d 100644
--- a/src/net/cgrand/xforms.clj
+++ b/src/net/cgrand/xforms.clj
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@
 
 (defn- noprf "The noop reducing function" ([acc] acc) ([acc _] acc))
 
+(defn- multiplexable
+  "Creates a multiplexable reducing function (doesn't init or complete the uderlying rf)."
+  [rf]
+  (fn ([]) ([acc] acc) ([acc x] (rf acc x)))) ; no init no complete rf
+
 (defn by-key
   "Returns a transducer which partitions items according to kfn.
    It applies the transform specified by xform to each partition.
@@ -88,17 +93,17 @@
   ([kfn vfn pair xform]
     (fn [rf]
       (let [make-rf (if pair
-                      (fn [k] (fn ([acc] (rf acc)) ([acc v] (rf acc (pair k v)))))
-                      (constantly rf))
+                      (fn [k] (fn ([acc] acc) ([acc v] (rf acc (pair k v)))))
+                      (constantly (multiplexable rf)))
             m (volatile! (transient {}))]
         (fn self
           ([] (rf))
-          ([acc] (clj/reduce (fn [acc krf] (krf acc)) acc (vals (persistent! @m))))
+          ([acc] (rf (clj/reduce (fn [acc krf] (krf acc)) acc (vals (persistent! @m)))))
           ([acc x]
             (let [k (kfn x)
                   krf (or (get @m k) (doto (xform (make-rf k)) (->> (vswap! m assoc! k))))
                   acc (krf acc (vfn x))]
-              (when (reduced? acc)
+              (when (reduced? acc) ; complete?
                 (vswap! m assoc! k noprf))
               (unreduced acc))))))))
 
@@ -106,7 +111,7 @@
   "Every n items, spawns a new pipeline."
   [n xform]
   (fn [rf]
-    (let [ncrf (fn ([]) ([acc] acc) ([acc x] (rf acc x))) ; no init no complete rf
+    (let [mxrf (multiplexable rf)
           vrfs (volatile! [])
           m (volatile! 0)]
       (fn
@@ -126,8 +131,8 @@
             (let [acc (clj/reduce step! acc rfs)
                   acc (if (neg? (vswap! m dec))
                         (do
-                          (step! acc (xform ncrf))
-                          (vswap! m + n))
+                          (vswap! m + n)
+                          (step! acc (xform mxrf)))
                         acc)]
               (vswap! vrfs persistent!)
               acc)))))))
diff --git a/test/net/cgrand/xforms_test.clj b/test/net/cgrand/xforms_test.clj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e0b364
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/net/cgrand/xforms_test.clj
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+(ns net.cgrand.xforms-test
+  (:require [clojure.test :refer :all]
+            [net.cgrand.xforms :as x]))
+
+(defn trial
+  "A transducing context for testing that transducers are well-behaved towards
+  linear use of the accumulator, init, completion and handling of reduced values.
+  A \"poisonous\" reducing function rf is passed to the transducer.
+  n is the number of calls to rf before it returns a reduced.
+  accs is a collection of successive return values for rf."
+  ([xform n coll]
+    (trial xform n (repeatedly #(Object.)) coll))
+  ([xform n accs coll]
+    (let [vaccs (volatile! accs)
+          vstate (volatile! {:n n :acc (first @vaccs) :state :init})
+          check-acc (fn [acc]
+                      (when (reduced? acc)
+                        (throw (ex-info "Called with reduced accumulator" (assoc @vstate :actual-acc acc))))
+                      (when-not (identical? acc (:acc @vstate))
+                        (throw (ex-info "Called with an unexpected accumulator (either non-linear or out of thin air)" (assoc @vstate :actual-acc acc)))))
+          rf (fn
+               ([]
+                 (when-not (= :init (:state @vstate))
+                   (throw (ex-info "Init arity called on a started or completed rf." @vstate)))
+                 (:acc (vswap! vstate assoc :state :started)))
+               ([acc]
+                 (when (= :completed (:state @vstate))
+                   (throw (ex-info "Completion arity called on an already completed rf." @vstate)))
+                 (check-acc acc)
+                 (:acc (vswap! vstate assoc :state :completed :acc (first (vswap! vaccs next)))))
+               ([acc x]
+                 (when (= :completed (:state @vstate))
+                   (throw (ex-info "Step arity called on an already completed rf." @vstate)))
+                 (when (= :reduced (:state @vstate))
+                   (throw (ex-info "Step arity called on a reduced rf." @vstate)))
+                 (check-acc acc)
+                 (let [n (:n @vstate)]
+                   (let [acc (first (vswap! vaccs next))]
+                     (if (pos? n)
+                      (:acc (vswap! vstate assoc :acc acc :n (dec n)))
+                      (reduced (:acc (vswap! vstate assoc :acc acc :status :reduced))))))))
+          res (transduce xform rf coll)]
+      (check-acc res)
+      (when-not (= :completed (:state @vstate))
+        (throw (ex-info "Completion arity never called" @vstate)))
+      true)))
+
+(deftest proper-rf-usage
+  (testing "Ensuring that reducing functions returned by transducers are well-behaved."
+    (is (trial (x/by-key odd? identity)
+          4 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/by-key odd? identity nil identity)
+          4 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/by-key odd? (take 2))
+          8 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/by-key odd? identity)
+          8 (range 2)))
+    (is (trial (x/partition 3 identity)
+          4 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/partition 3 (take 2))
+          8 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/partition 3 (take 2))
+          8 (range 2)))
+    (is (trial (x/into [])
+          4 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/for [x % y (range x)] [x y])
+          4 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/reduce +)
+          4 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/pad 2 (repeat :pad))
+          4 (range 16)))
+    (is (trial (x/pad 8 (repeat :pad))
+          4 (range 16)))))