diff --git a/slirp/if.c b/slirp/if.c
index 1ef4bf963a..58ab4c7aca 100644
--- a/slirp/if.c
+++ b/slirp/if.c
@@ -138,10 +138,7 @@ diddit:
 	/*
 	 * This prevents us from malloc()ing too many mbufs
 	 */
-	if (link_up) {
-		/* if_start will check towrite */
-		if_start();
-	}
+	if_start();
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/slirp/slirp.c b/slirp/slirp.c
index 9b51c0b010..71f79a3630 100644
--- a/slirp/slirp.c
+++ b/slirp/slirp.c
@@ -824,9 +824,6 @@ size_t slirp_socket_can_recv(struct in_addr guest_addr, int guest_port)
 	struct iovec iov[2];
 	struct socket *so;
 
-    if (!link_up)
-        return 0;
-
 	so = slirp_find_ctl_socket(guest_addr, guest_port);
 
 	if (!so || so->so_state & SS_NOFDREF)