diff --git a/extras/libmemif/src/main.c b/extras/libmemif/src/main.c
index 397c2bb..21b3994 100644
--- a/extras/libmemif/src/main.c
+++ b/extras/libmemif/src/main.c
@@ -409,6 +409,16 @@
   memif_socket_t *ms = (memif_socket_t *) private_ctx;
   memif_connection_t *c;
 
+  if (ms->timer_fd >= 0)
+    {
+      uint64_t u64;
+      /*
+	Have to read the timer fd else it stays read-ready
+	and makes epoll_pwait() return without sleeping
+      */
+      read (ms->timer_fd, &u64, sizeof (u64));
+    }
+
   /* loop ms->slave_interfaces and request connection for disconnected ones */
   TAILQ_FOREACH (c, &ms->slave_interfaces, next)
   {