diff --git a/sys/dev/fxp/if_fxp.c b/sys/dev/fxp/if_fxp.c
index 1d2ff03f0c3e..50da42e1421a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/fxp/if_fxp.c
+++ b/sys/dev/fxp/if_fxp.c
@@ -1253,11 +1253,13 @@ fxp_intr_body(struct fxp_softc *sc, u_int8_t statack, int count)
 				sc->tx_queued--;
 			}
 			sc->cbl_first = txp;
-			ifp->if_timer = 0;
 			if (sc->tx_queued == 0) {
+				ifp->if_timer = 0;
 				if (sc->need_mcsetup)
 					fxp_mc_setup(sc);
-			}
+			} else
+				ifp->if_timer = 5;
+
 			/*
 			 * Try to start more packets transmitting.
 			 */