diff --git a/include/proto/channel.h b/include/proto/channel.h
index 0afdc6588..36633c643 100644
--- a/include/proto/channel.h
+++ b/include/proto/channel.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ static inline void channel_init(struct channel *chn)
 	chn->buf->i = 0;
 	chn->buf->p = chn->buf->data;
 	chn->to_forward = 0;
+	chn->last_read = now_ms;
 	chn->xfer_small = chn->xfer_large = 0;
 	chn->total = 0;
 	chn->pipe = NULL;
diff --git a/include/types/channel.h b/include/types/channel.h
index 905308e1f..2eea3e81f 100644
--- a/include/types/channel.h
+++ b/include/types/channel.h
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ struct channel {
 	struct stream_interface *prod;  /* producer attached to this channel */
 	struct pipe *pipe;		/* non-NULL only when data present */
 	unsigned int to_forward;        /* number of bytes to forward after out without a wake-up */
+	unsigned short last_read;       /* 16 lower bits of last read date (max pause=65s) */
 	unsigned char xfer_large;       /* number of consecutive large xfers */
 	unsigned char xfer_small;       /* number of consecutive small xfers */
 	unsigned long long total;       /* total data read */