diff --git a/include/types/fd.h b/include/types/fd.h
index 580e18053..dae1c90c9 100644
--- a/include/types/fd.h
+++ b/include/types/fd.h
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ struct fdinfo {
  *  - flags indicate what the poller supports (HAP_POLL_F_*)
  */
 
-#define HAP_POLL_F_RDHUP 0x00000001                          /* the poller notifies of HUP with reads */
+#define HAP_POLL_F_RDHUP        0x00000001                   /* the poller notifies of HUP with reads */
+#define HAP_POLL_F_ERRHUP       0x00000002                   /* the poller reports ERR and HUP */
 
 struct poller {
 	void   *private;                                     /* any private data for the poller */
diff --git a/src/ev_epoll.c b/src/ev_epoll.c
index dc156e58f..8b2c2eebe 100644
--- a/src/ev_epoll.c
+++ b/src/ev_epoll.c
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ static void _do_register(void)
 
 	p->name = "epoll";
 	p->pref = 300;
-	p->flags = 0;
+	p->flags = HAP_POLL_F_ERRHUP; // note: RDHUP might be dynamically added
 	p->private = NULL;
 
 	p->clo  = __fd_clo;
diff --git a/src/ev_evports.c b/src/ev_evports.c
index bde617d5f..2aea20123 100644
--- a/src/ev_evports.c
+++ b/src/ev_evports.c
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ static void _do_register(void)
 
 	p->name = "evports";
 	p->pref = 300;
-	p->flags = 0;
+	p->flags = HAP_POLL_F_ERRHUP;
 	p->private = NULL;
 
 	p->clo  = NULL;
diff --git a/src/ev_kqueue.c b/src/ev_kqueue.c
index 98fac8520..3514f2d7b 100644
--- a/src/ev_kqueue.c
+++ b/src/ev_kqueue.c
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ static void _do_register(void)
 
 	p->name = "kqueue";
 	p->pref = 300;
-	p->flags = HAP_POLL_F_RDHUP;
+	p->flags = HAP_POLL_F_RDHUP | HAP_POLL_F_ERRHUP;
 	p->private = NULL;
 
 	p->clo  = NULL;
diff --git a/src/ev_poll.c b/src/ev_poll.c
index 7655ca559..47ce14bbf 100644
--- a/src/ev_poll.c
+++ b/src/ev_poll.c
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ static void _do_register(void)
 
 	p->name = "poll";
 	p->pref = 200;
-	p->flags = 0;
+	p->flags = HAP_POLL_F_ERRHUP;
 	p->private = NULL;
 
 	p->clo  = __fd_clo;