diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/netdevice.h b/src/include/ipxe/netdevice.h
index caa83b44b..17695d5b6 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/netdevice.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/netdevice.h
@@ -457,6 +457,9 @@ struct net_device {
 /** Network device poll is in progress */
 #define NETDEV_POLL_IN_PROGRESS 0x0020
 
+/** Network device must be polled even when closed */
+#define NETDEV_INSOMNIAC 0x0040
+
 /** Link-layer protocol table */
 #define LL_PROTOCOLS __table ( struct ll_protocol, "ll_protocols" )
 
@@ -693,6 +696,17 @@ netdev_rx_frozen ( struct net_device *netdev ) {
 	return ( netdev->state & NETDEV_RX_FROZEN );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Check whether or not network device must be polled even while closed
+ *
+ * @v netdev		Network device
+ * @ret insomniac	Network device must be polled even while closed
+ */
+static inline __attribute__ (( always_inline )) int
+netdev_insomniac ( struct net_device *netdev ) {
+	return ( netdev->state & NETDEV_INSOMNIAC );
+}
+
 extern void * netdev_priv ( struct net_device *netdev,
 			    struct net_driver *driver );
 extern void netdev_rx_freeze ( struct net_device *netdev );
diff --git a/src/net/netdevice.c b/src/net/netdevice.c
index a9ed18134..c89585708 100644
--- a/src/net/netdevice.c
+++ b/src/net/netdevice.c
@@ -611,8 +611,8 @@ void netdev_rx_err ( struct net_device *netdev,
  */
 void netdev_poll ( struct net_device *netdev ) {
 
-	/* Avoid calling poll() on unopened network devices */
-	if ( ! netdev_is_open ( netdev ) )
+	/* Call poll() only on open (or insomniac) network devices */
+	if ( ! ( netdev->state & ( NETDEV_OPEN | NETDEV_INSOMNIAC ) ) )
 		return;
 
 	/* Guard against re-entry */