diff --git a/net.c b/net.c
index bae8bef865..fa9fa948cb 100644
--- a/net.c
+++ b/net.c
@@ -1718,6 +1718,9 @@ int do_set_link(const char *name, const char *up_or_down)
         term_printf("invalid link status '%s'; only 'up' or 'down' valid\n",
                     up_or_down);
 
+    if (vc->link_status_changed)
+        vc->link_status_changed(vc);
+
     return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/net.h b/net.h
index 7854129f6c..e79ee3d70a 100644
--- a/net.h
+++ b/net.h
@@ -9,12 +9,15 @@ typedef ssize_t (IOReadvHandler)(void *, const struct iovec *, int);
 
 typedef struct VLANClientState VLANClientState;
 
+typedef void (LinkStatusChanged)(VLANClientState *);
+
 struct VLANClientState {
     IOReadHandler *fd_read;
     IOReadvHandler *fd_readv;
     /* Packets may still be sent if this returns zero.  It's used to
        rate-limit the slirp code.  */
     IOCanRWHandler *fd_can_read;
+    LinkStatusChanged *link_status_changed;
     int link_down;
     void *opaque;
     struct VLANClientState *next;