diff --git a/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr-int.h b/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr-int.h
index a99153a8f2..48f2ef99f0 100644
--- a/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr-int.h
+++ b/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr-int.h
@@ -1229,6 +1229,7 @@ struct isc_nmsocket {
 
 	isc_barrier_t barrier;
 	bool barrier_initialised;
+	atomic_bool manual_read_timer;
 #ifdef NETMGR_TRACE
 	void *backtrace[TRACE_SIZE];
 	int backtrace_size;
@@ -1547,6 +1548,9 @@ isc__nm_tcp_settimeout(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, uint32_t timeout);
  * Set the read timeout for the TCP socket associated with 'handle'.
  */
 
+void
+isc__nmhandle_tcp_set_manual_timer(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, const bool manual);
+
 void
 isc__nm_async_tcpconnect(isc__networker_t *worker, isc__netievent_t *ev0);
 void
@@ -2278,3 +2282,10 @@ isc__nmsocket_writetimeout_cb(void *data, isc_result_t eresult);
 
 void
 isc__nmsocket_log_tls_session_reuse(isc_nmsocket_t *sock, isc_tls_t *tls);
+
+void
+isc__nmhandle_set_manual_timer(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, const bool manual);
+/*
+ * Set manual read timer control mode - so that it will not get reset
+ * automatically on read nor get started when read is initiated.
+ */
diff --git a/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c b/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
index a7b82ce69b..49982767bc 100644
--- a/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
+++ b/lib/isc/netmgr/netmgr.c
@@ -1627,6 +1627,7 @@ isc___nmsocket_init(isc_nmsocket_t *sock, isc_nm_t *mgr, isc_nmsocket_type type,
 	atomic_init(&sock->keepalive, false);
 	atomic_init(&sock->connected, false);
 	atomic_init(&sock->timedout, false);
+	atomic_init(&sock->manual_read_timer, false);
 
 	atomic_init(&sock->active_child_connections, 0);
 
@@ -3932,6 +3933,24 @@ isc__nmsocket_log_tls_session_reuse(isc_nmsocket_t *sock, isc_tls_t *tls) {
 		      client_sabuf, local_sabuf);
 }
 
+void
+isc__nmhandle_set_manual_timer(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, const bool manual) {
+	REQUIRE(VALID_NMHANDLE(handle));
+	REQUIRE(VALID_NMSOCK(handle->sock));
+
+	isc_nmsocket_t *sock = handle->sock;
+
+	switch (sock->type) {
+	case isc_nm_tcpsocket:
+		isc__nmhandle_tcp_set_manual_timer(handle, manual);
+		return;
+	default:
+		break;
+	};
+
+	UNREACHABLE();
+}
+
 #ifdef NETMGR_TRACE
 /*
  * Dump all active sockets in netmgr. We output to stderr
diff --git a/lib/isc/netmgr/tcp.c b/lib/isc/netmgr/tcp.c
index db589aecc7..fbe1394ab9 100644
--- a/lib/isc/netmgr/tcp.c
+++ b/lib/isc/netmgr/tcp.c
@@ -784,7 +784,9 @@ isc__nm_async_tcpstartread(isc__networker_t *worker, isc__netievent_t *ev0) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	isc__nmsocket_timer_start(sock);
+	if (!atomic_load(&sock->manual_read_timer)) {
+		isc__nmsocket_timer_start(sock);
+	}
 }
 
 void
@@ -822,7 +824,9 @@ isc__nm_async_tcppauseread(isc__networker_t *worker, isc__netievent_t *ev0) {
 	REQUIRE(sock->tid == isc_nm_tid());
 	UNUSED(worker);
 
-	isc__nmsocket_timer_stop(sock);
+	if (!atomic_load(&sock->manual_read_timer)) {
+		isc__nmsocket_timer_stop(sock);
+	}
 	isc__nm_stop_reading(sock);
 }
 
@@ -931,8 +935,10 @@ isc__nm_tcp_read_cb(uv_stream_t *stream, ssize_t nread, const uv_buf_t *buf) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		/* The timer will be updated */
-		isc__nmsocket_timer_restart(sock);
+		if (!atomic_load(&sock->manual_read_timer)) {
+			/* The timer will be updated */
+			isc__nmsocket_timer_restart(sock);
+		}
 	}
 
 free:
@@ -1521,3 +1527,15 @@ isc__nm_tcp_listener_nactive(isc_nmsocket_t *listener) {
 	INSIST(nactive >= 0);
 	return nactive;
 }
+
+void
+isc__nmhandle_tcp_set_manual_timer(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, const bool manual) {
+	isc_nmsocket_t *sock;
+
+	REQUIRE(VALID_NMHANDLE(handle));
+	sock = handle->sock;
+	REQUIRE(VALID_NMSOCK(sock));
+	REQUIRE(sock->type == isc_nm_tcpsocket);
+
+	atomic_store(&sock->manual_read_timer, manual);
+}