diff --git a/sys/net/if_infiniband.c b/sys/net/if_infiniband.c
--- a/sys/net/if_infiniband.c
+++ b/sys/net/if_infiniband.c
@@ -415,9 +415,13 @@
 	struct infiniband_header *ibh;
 	struct epoch_tracker et;
 	int isr;
+	bool needs_epoch;
+
+	needs_epoch = (ifp->if_flags & IFF_KNOWSEPOCH) == 0;
 
 	CURVNET_SET_QUIET(ifp->if_vnet);
-	NET_EPOCH_ENTER(et);
+	if (__predict_false(needs_epoch))
+		NET_EPOCH_ENTER(et);
 
 	if ((ifp->if_flags & IFF_UP) == 0) {
 		if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_IERRORS, 1);
@@ -507,7 +511,8 @@
 	/* Allow monitor mode to claim this frame, after stats are updated. */
 	netisr_dispatch(isr, m);
 done:
-	NET_EPOCH_EXIT(et);
+	if (__predict_false(needs_epoch))
+		NET_EPOCH_EXIT(et);
 	CURVNET_RESTORE();
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib.h b/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib.h
--- a/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib.h
+++ b/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib.h
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@
 
 void ipoib_mark_paths_invalid(struct ipoib_dev_priv *priv);
 void ipoib_flush_paths(struct ipoib_dev_priv *priv);
-struct ipoib_dev_priv *ipoib_intf_alloc(const char *format);
+struct ipoib_dev_priv *ipoib_intf_alloc(const char *format, struct ib_device *ca);
 
 int ipoib_ib_dev_init(struct ipoib_dev_priv *priv, struct ib_device *ca,
     int port);
diff --git a/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib_main.c b/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib_main.c
--- a/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib_main.c
+++ b/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib_main.c
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@
 }
 
 struct ipoib_dev_priv *
-ipoib_intf_alloc(const char *name)
+ipoib_intf_alloc(const char *name, struct ib_device *hca)
 {
 	struct ipoib_dev_priv *priv;
 	if_t dev;
@@ -922,6 +922,8 @@
 	}
 	if_initname(dev, name, priv->unit);
 	if_setflags(dev, IFF_BROADCAST | IFF_MULTICAST);
+	if (hca->attrs.device_cap_flags & IB_DEVICE_KNOWSEPOCH)
+		if_setflagbits(dev, IFF_KNOWSEPOCH, 0);
 
 	infiniband_ifattach(priv->dev, NULL, priv->broadcastaddr);
 
@@ -976,7 +978,7 @@
 	struct ib_port_attr attr;
 	int result = -ENOMEM;
 
-	priv = ipoib_intf_alloc(format);
+	priv = ipoib_intf_alloc(format, hca);
 	if (!priv)
 		goto alloc_mem_failed;
 
diff --git a/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib_vlan.c b/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib_vlan.c
--- a/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib_vlan.c
+++ b/sys/ofed/drivers/infiniband/ulp/ipoib/ipoib_vlan.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
 
 	snprintf(intf_name, sizeof intf_name, "%s.%04x",
 		 ppriv->dev->name, pkey);
-	priv = ipoib_intf_alloc(intf_name);
+	priv = ipoib_intf_alloc(intf_name, ppriv->ca);
 	if (!priv) {
 		result = -ENOMEM;
 		goto err;
diff --git a/sys/ofed/include/rdma/ib_verbs.h b/sys/ofed/include/rdma/ib_verbs.h
--- a/sys/ofed/include/rdma/ib_verbs.h
+++ b/sys/ofed/include/rdma/ib_verbs.h
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@
 	IB_DEVICE_SG_GAPS_REG			= (1ULL << 32),
 	IB_DEVICE_VIRTUAL_FUNCTION		= (1ULL << 33),
 	IB_DEVICE_RAW_SCATTER_FCS		= (1ULL << 34),
+	IB_DEVICE_KNOWSEPOCH			= (1ULL << 35),
 };
 
 enum ib_atomic_cap {