diff --git a/dirmngr/dirmngr.c b/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
index 14189fea6..254c54341 100644
--- a/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
+++ b/dirmngr/dirmngr.c
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ static void cleanup (void);
 static ldap_server_t parse_ldapserver_file (const char* filename);
 #endif /*USE_LDAP*/
 static fingerprint_list_t parse_ocsp_signer (const char *string);
+static void netactivity_action (void);
 static void handle_connections (assuan_fd_t listen_fd);
 
 /* NPth wrapper function definitions. */
@@ -995,6 +996,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 #if USE_LDAP
       ldap_wrapper_launch_thread ();
 #endif /*USE_LDAP*/
+      http_register_netactivity_cb (netactivity_action);
       start_command_handler (ASSUAN_INVALID_FD);
       shutdown_reaper ();
     }
@@ -1032,6 +1034,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 #if USE_LDAP
       ldap_wrapper_launch_thread ();
 #endif /*USE_LDAP*/
+      http_register_netactivity_cb (netactivity_action);
       handle_connections (3);
       assuan_sock_close (3);
       shutdown_reaper ();
@@ -1232,6 +1235,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 #if USE_LDAP
       ldap_wrapper_launch_thread ();
 #endif /*USE_LDAP*/
+      http_register_netactivity_cb (netactivity_action);
       handle_connections (fd);
       assuan_sock_close (fd);
       shutdown_reaper ();
@@ -1702,6 +1706,16 @@ dirmngr_sighup_action (void)
 }
 
 
+/* This function is called if some network activity was done.  At this
+ * point we know the we have a network and we can decide whether to
+ * run scheduled background tasks soon.  The function should return
+ * quickly and only trigger actions for another thread. */
+static void
+netactivity_action (void)
+{
+  log_debug ("network activity seen\n");
+}
+
 
 /* The signal handler. */
 #ifndef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
diff --git a/dirmngr/http.c b/dirmngr/http.c
index 5f5775b2f..b74a9ef9a 100644
--- a/dirmngr/http.c
+++ b/dirmngr/http.c
@@ -261,6 +261,9 @@ static gpg_error_t (*tls_callback) (http_t, http_session_t, int);
 /* The list of files with trusted CA certificates.  */
 static strlist_t tls_ca_certlist;
 
+/* The global callback for net activity.  */
+static void (*netactivity_cb)(void);
+
 
 
 #if defined(HAVE_W32_SYSTEM) && !defined(HTTP_NO_WSASTARTUP)
@@ -499,6 +502,25 @@ http_register_tls_ca (const char *fname)
 }
 
 
+/* Register a callback which is called every time the HTTP mode has
+ * made a successful connection to some server.  */
+void
+http_register_netactivity_cb (void (*cb)(void))
+{
+  netactivity_cb = cb;
+}
+
+
+/* Call the netactivity callback if any.  */
+static void
+notify_netactivity (void)
+{
+  if (netactivity_cb)
+    netactivity_cb ();
+}
+
+
+
 #ifdef USE_TLS
 /* Free the TLS session associated with SESS, if any.  */
 static void
@@ -2279,6 +2301,8 @@ connect_server (const char *server, unsigned short port,
             *r_host_not_found = 1;
           log_error ("can't connect to '%s': %s\n", server, strerror (errno));
         }
+      else
+        notify_netactivity ();
       return sock;
 
 #else /*!ASSUAN_SOCK_TOR*/
@@ -2371,7 +2395,10 @@ connect_server (const char *server, unsigned short port,
           if (ret)
             last_errno = errno;
           else
-            connected = 1;
+            {
+              connected = 1;
+              notify_netactivity ();
+            }
         }
       free_dns_addrinfo (aibuf);
     }
diff --git a/dirmngr/http.h b/dirmngr/http.h
index 4a70caf4f..2a36fdaa8 100644
--- a/dirmngr/http.h
+++ b/dirmngr/http.h
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ typedef struct http_context_s *http_t;
 
 void http_register_tls_callback (gpg_error_t (*cb)(http_t,http_session_t,int));
 void http_register_tls_ca (const char *fname);
+void http_register_netactivity_cb (void (*cb)(void));
+
 
 gpg_error_t http_session_new (http_session_t *r_session,
                               const char *tls_priority,