diff --git a/lib/path.c b/lib/path.c
index 165ce740e..bb27f104f 100644
--- a/lib/path.c
+++ b/lib/path.c
@@ -641,12 +641,18 @@ int path_parse(struct path *p, json_t *cfg, struct vlist *nodes)
 
 	/* Autodetect whether to use poll() for this path or not */
 	if (p->poll == -1) {
-		struct path_source *ps = (struct path_source *) vlist_at(&p->sources, 0);
+		if (p->rate > 0)
+			p->poll = 1;
+		else if (vlist_length(&p->sources) > 1)
+			p->poll = 1;
+		else {
+			struct path_source *ps = (struct path_source *) vlist_at(&p->sources, 0);
 
-		int fds[16];
-		int num_fds = node_poll_fds(ps->node, fds);
+			int fds[16];
+			int num_fds = node_poll_fds(ps->node, fds);
 
-		p->poll = (p->rate > 0 || vlist_length(&p->sources) > 1) && num_fds > 0;
+			p->poll = num_fds > 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	ret = vlist_destroy(&sources, NULL, false);