diff --git a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed.c b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed.c
index b6b517c9d28b..f9a32bf57111 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed.c
@@ -1739,3 +1739,38 @@ ed_shmem_write_mbufs(struct ed_softc *sc, struct mbuf *m, bus_size_t dst)
 	}
 	return (len);
 }
+
+/*
+ * Generic ifmedia support.  By default, the DP8390-based cards don't know
+ * what their network attachment really is, or even if it is valid (except
+ * upon successful transmission of a packet).  To play nicer with dhclient, as
+ * well as to fit in with a framework where some cards can provde more
+ * detailed information, make sure that we use this as a fallback.
+ */
+static int
+ed_gen_ifmedia_ioctl(struct ed_softc *sc, struct ifreq *ifr, u_long command)
+{
+	return (ifmedia_ioctl(sc->ifp, ifr, &sc->ifmedia, command));
+}
+
+static int
+ed_gen_ifmedia_upd(struct ifnet *ifp)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void
+ed_gen_ifmedia_sts(struct ifnet *ifp, struct ifmediareq *ifmr)
+{
+	ifmr->ifm_active = IFM_ETHER | IFM_AUTO;
+	ifmr->ifm_status = IFM_AVALID | IFM_ACTIVE;
+}
+
+void
+ed_gen_ifmedia_init(struct ed_softc *sc)
+{
+	sc->sc_media_ioctl = &ed_gen_ifmedia_ioctl;
+	ifmedia_init(&sc->ifmedia, 0, ed_gen_ifmedia_upd, ed_gen_ifmedia_sts);
+	ifmedia_add(&sc->ifmedia, IFM_ETHER | IFM_AUTO, 0, 0);
+	ifmedia_set(&sc->ifmedia, IFM_ETHER | IFM_AUTO);
+}
diff --git a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_cbus.c b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_cbus.c
index dc4fabb68859..bcc0d85b7cf5 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_cbus.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_cbus.c
@@ -248,7 +248,8 @@ ed_cbus_attach(dev)
 		ed_release_resources(dev);
 		return (error);
 	}
-
+	if (sc->sc_media_ioctl == NULL)
+		ed_gen_ifmedia_init(sc);
 	return ed_attach(dev);
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_isa.c b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_isa.c
index 7d30614963f6..1beac2720bd3 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_isa.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_isa.c
@@ -175,7 +175,8 @@ ed_isa_attach(device_t dev)
 		ed_release_resources(dev);
 		return (error);
 	}
-
+	if (sc->sc_media_ioctl == NULL)
+		ed_gen_ifmedia_init(sc);
 	return ed_attach(dev);
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_pci.c b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_pci.c
index a2831b8f6497..1b2e17d8a6ab 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_pci.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ed/if_ed_pci.c
@@ -91,11 +91,9 @@ ed_pci_attach(device_t dev)
 	int	error = ENXIO;
 
 	/*
-	 * If this card claims to be a RTL8029, probe it as such.
-	 * However, allow that probe to fail.  Some versions of qemu
-	 * claim to be a 8029 in the PCI register, but it doesn't
-	 * implement the 8029 specific registers.  In that case, fall
-	 * back to a normal NE2000.
+	 * Probe RTL8029 cards, but allow failure and try as a generic
+	 * ne-2000.  QEMU 0.9 and earlier use the RTL8029 PCI ID, but
+	 * are areally just generic ne-2000 cards.
 	 */
 	if (pci_get_devid(dev) == ED_RTL8029_PCI_ID)
 		error = ed_probe_RTL80x9(dev, PCIR_BAR(0), flags);
@@ -118,7 +116,8 @@ ed_pci_attach(device_t dev)
 		ed_release_resources(dev);
 		return (error);
 	}
-
+	if (sc->sc_media_ioctl == NULL)
+		ed_gen_ifmedia_init(sc);
 	error = ed_attach(dev);
 	if (error)
 		ed_release_resources(dev);
diff --git a/sys/dev/ed/if_edvar.h b/sys/dev/ed/if_edvar.h
index 30610abc5f1b..27dd6694d9ae 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ed/if_edvar.h
+++ b/sys/dev/ed/if_edvar.h
@@ -226,6 +226,8 @@ u_short	ed_pio_write_mbufs(struct ed_softc *, struct mbuf *, bus_size_t);
 void	ed_disable_16bit_access(struct ed_softc *);
 void	ed_enable_16bit_access(struct ed_softc *);
 
+void	ed_gen_ifmedia_init(struct ed_softc *);
+
 driver_intr_t	edintr;
 
 extern devclass_t ed_devclass;