diff --git a/drivers/net/Kconfig b/drivers/net/Kconfig
index 287d087..4d69474 100644
--- a/drivers/net/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/Kconfig
@@ -938,6 +938,15 @@
 	  To compile this driver as a module, choose M here.  The module
 	  will be called dm9000.
 
+config DM9000_FORCE_SIMPLE_PHY_POLL
+	bool "Force simple NSR based PHY polling"
+	depends on DM9000
+	---help---
+	  This configuration forces the DM9000 to use the NSR's LinkStatus
+	  bit to determine if the link is up or down instead of the more
+	  costly MII PHY reads. Note, this will not work if the chip is
+	  operating with an external PHY.
+
 config ENC28J60
 	tristate "ENC28J60 support"
 	depends on EXPERIMENTAL && SPI && NET_ETHERNET