diff --git a/request.go b/request.go
index 30f4ce5..0445581 100644
--- a/request.go
+++ b/request.go
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ func NewRequestManager(e *Envoy) *RequestManager {
 	}
 
 	// start event handler
-	// start inbox router
+	m.wg.Add(1)
+	go m.routeInbox()
 
 	return m
 }
@@ -240,11 +241,46 @@ func (m *RequestManager) handleEvents() {
 func (m *RequestManager) routeInbox() {
 	defer m.wg.Done()
 
-	// unpack/route inbox message
-	// events forward directly to request event buffer
-	// eose goes to session
-	// closed goes both to session and request
-	// uses read lock for map lookups
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-m.ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case msg, ok := <-m.inbox:
+			if !ok {
+				return
+			}
+			m.dispatchInbox(msg)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *RequestManager) dispatchInbox(msg InboxMessage) {
+	label, err := envelope.GetLabel(msg.Data)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	switch string(label) {
+	case "EVENT":
+		subID, event, err := envelope.FindSubscriptionEvent(msg.Data)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		m.mu.RLock()
+		req, ok := m.reqs[subID]
+		m.mu.RUnlock()
+		if !ok {
+			return
+		}
+		select {
+		case req.buffer <- ReqEvent{PeerID: msg.ID, ReceivedAt: msg.ReceivedAt, Data: event}:
+		default:
+		}
+	case "EOSE":
+		// route to session
+	case "CLOSED":
+		// route to session and request
+	}
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/request_test.go b/request_test.go
index d22b4fb..f4b41bb 100644
--- a/request_test.go
+++ b/request_test.go
@@ -256,10 +256,46 @@ func TestRequestManager_Stream(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("forwards events to caller", func(t *testing.T) {
-		// connect, call Stream, get events channel
-		// inject two EVENT envelopes for the correct sub id into mock inbox
-		// inject one EVENT envelope for an unrelated sub id
-		// assert exactly two events appear on the caller's events channel
+		p, envoy := newMockEnvoy(t)
+		p.connect()
+		Eventually(t, envoy.IsConnected, "envoy should be connected")
+
+		m := NewRequestManager(envoy)
+		filters := [][]byte{[]byte(`{}`)}
+		id, events, _ := m.Stream(filters)
+
+		// drain the REQ send
+		Eventually(t, func() bool {
+			select {
+			case <-p.sent:
+				return true
+			default:
+				return false
+			}
+		}, "expected REQ send")
+
+		eventA := []byte(`{"id":"a"}`)
+		eventB := []byte(`{"id":"b"}`)
+		eventC := []byte(`{"id":"c"}`)
+		p.receive(envelope.EncloseSubscriptionEvent(id, eventA))
+		p.receive(envelope.EncloseSubscriptionEvent(id, eventB))
+		p.receive(envelope.EncloseSubscriptionEvent("unrelated", eventC))
+
+		var got []ReqEvent
+		Eventually(t, func() bool {
+			for {
+				select {
+				case ev := <-events:
+					got = append(got, ev)
+				default:
+					return len(got) >= 2
+				}
+			}
+		}, "expected two events")
+
+		assert.Len(t, got, 2)
+		assert.Equal(t, eventA, got[0].Data)
+		assert.Equal(t, eventB, got[1].Data)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("ignores eose", func(t *testing.T) {