Timm Klose's first-half own goal condemned Norwich City to their first defeat in nine matches – with Stoke the fortunate beneficiaries.
Unchanged for the fifth league game running, City made all the early running against a strong side that had made an indifferent return to the Championship so far this season.
Marco Stiepermann had the best early chance after good work from Todd Cantwell, only for the German to lean back on his effort and send it high over Jack Butland's goal.
But rather than the opening goal, it was a sucker punch that arrived for Norwich on 35 minutes as Stoke took the lead.
Tom Ince caused Jamal Lewis issues down the City left, before Cuco Martina sent in a low cross on the overlap – and while Timm Klose's slide was intended to clear the danger, he only succeeded in deflecting the ball beyond a wrong-footed Tim Krul.
Norwich continued to make all the serious running after the break as Gary Rowett's men sat in to hold on to their advantage, but struggled to really stretch Butland.
And in the end, Joe Allen arguably came as close as anyone to scoring again on the counter with the Canaries leaving gaps at the back.
Even the return of Onel Hernandez from the bench after a hernia operation couldn't provide the goal a vocal Carrow Road crowd wanted, as Stoke earned their first away win of the Championship season heading into the second international break of the season.
• City (4-2-3-1): Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Klose, Lewis; Tettey (c, Vrancic 81), Leitner; Buendía (Hernandez 71), Stiepermann (Rhodes 71), Cantwell; Pukki. Unused subs: McGovern, Godfrey, Trybull, Thompson.
• Goals: None; Booked: None
• Stoke (4-1-4-1): Butland; Martina, Williams, Martins Indi, Pieters; Woods (c); Ince (Edwards 87), Etebo, Allen, McClean (Berahino 65); Afobe (Fletcher 78). Unused subs: Federici (GK), Shawcross, Fletcher, Crouch, Bojan.
• Goals: Klose og 34; Booked: Etebo
• Referee: David Coote; Attendance: 24,992
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Michael Bailey on Twitter @michaeljbailey
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