diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.c
index 1f0e239f3d..17ac04931e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.c
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 #include <rte_pci.h>
 #include <rte_bus_pci.h>
 #include <rte_ether.h>
+#include <rte_ip.h>
+#include <rte_arp.h>
 #include <rte_common.h>
 #include <rte_errno.h>
 #include <rte_cpuflags.h>
@@ -81,6 +83,9 @@ static int virtio_dev_queue_stats_mapping_set(
 int virtio_logtype_init;
 int virtio_logtype_driver;
 
+static void virtio_notify_peers(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
+static void virtio_ack_link_announce(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
+
 /*
  * The set of PCI devices this driver supports
  */
@@ -1275,9 +1280,46 @@ virtio_inject_pkts(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_mbuf **tx_pkts,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static void
+virtio_notify_peers(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
+{
+	struct virtio_hw *hw = dev->data->dev_private;
+	struct virtnet_rx *rxvq = dev->data->rx_queues[0];
+	struct rte_mbuf *rarp_mbuf;
+
+	rarp_mbuf = rte_net_make_rarp_packet(rxvq->mpool,
+			(struct ether_addr *)hw->mac_addr);
+	if (rarp_mbuf == NULL) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "failed to make RARP packet.");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/* If virtio port just stopped, no need to send RARP */
+	if (virtio_dev_pause(dev) < 0) {
+		rte_pktmbuf_free(rarp_mbuf);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	virtio_inject_pkts(dev, &rarp_mbuf, 1);
+	virtio_dev_resume(dev);
+}
+
+static void
+virtio_ack_link_announce(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
+{
+	struct virtio_hw *hw = dev->data->dev_private;
+	struct virtio_pmd_ctrl ctrl;
+
+	ctrl.hdr.class = VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_ANNOUNCE;
+	ctrl.hdr.cmd = VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_ANNOUNCE_ACK;
+
+	virtio_send_command(hw->cvq, &ctrl, NULL, 0);
+}
+
 /*
- * Process Virtio Config changed interrupt and call the callback
- * if link state changed.
+ * Process virtio config changed interrupt. Call the callback
+ * if link state changed, generate gratuitous RARP packet if
+ * the status indicates an ANNOUNCE.
  */
 void
 virtio_interrupt_handler(void *param)
@@ -1300,6 +1342,10 @@ virtio_interrupt_handler(void *param)
 						      NULL);
 	}
 
+	if (isr & VIRTIO_NET_S_ANNOUNCE) {
+		virtio_notify_peers(dev);
+		virtio_ack_link_announce(dev);
+	}
 }
 
 /* set rx and tx handlers according to what is supported */
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.h b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.h
index d98f7cdc95..4539d2e44b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.h
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 	 1u << VIRTIO_NET_F_HOST_TSO6	  |	\
 	 1u << VIRTIO_NET_F_MRG_RXBUF	  |	\
 	 1u << VIRTIO_NET_F_MTU	| \
+	 1ULL << VIRTIO_NET_F_GUEST_ANNOUNCE |	\
 	 1u << VIRTIO_RING_F_INDIRECT_DESC |    \
 	 1ULL << VIRTIO_F_VERSION_1       |	\
 	 1ULL << VIRTIO_F_IOMMU_PLATFORM)
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtqueue.h b/drivers/net/virtio/virtqueue.h
index fedbaa39c5..2d95992180 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtqueue.h
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtqueue.h
@@ -129,6 +129,17 @@ struct virtio_net_ctrl_mac {
 #define VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_VLAN_ADD 0
 #define VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_VLAN_DEL 1
 
+/*
+ * Control link announce acknowledgement
+ *
+ * The command VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_ANNOUNCE_ACK is used to indicate that
+ * driver has recevied the notification; device would clear the
+ * VIRTIO_NET_S_ANNOUNCE bit in the status field after it receives
+ * this command.
+ */
+#define VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_ANNOUNCE     3
+#define VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_ANNOUNCE_ACK 0
+
 struct virtio_net_ctrl_hdr {
 	uint8_t class;
 	uint8_t cmd;