diff --git a/include/villas/node.h b/include/villas/node.h
index 22088a958..10eaa15cf 100644
--- a/include/villas/node.h
+++ b/include/villas/node.h
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ int node_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *rel
 
 int node_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *release);
 
-int node_fd(struct node *n);
+int node_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[]);
 
 struct node_type * node_type(struct node *n);
 
diff --git a/include/villas/node_type.h b/include/villas/node_type.h
index 39060298f..3fa79dea2 100644
--- a/include/villas/node_type.h
+++ b/include/villas/node_type.h
@@ -207,13 +207,13 @@ struct node_type {
 	 */
 	int (*reverse)(struct node *n);
 
-	/** Return a file descriptor which can be used by poll / select to detect the availability of new data.
+	/** Get list of file descriptors which can be used by poll/select to detect the availability of new data.
 	 *
 	 * This callback is optional.
 	 *
-	 * @return This file descriptor.
+	 * @return The number of file descriptors which have been put into \p fds.
 	 */
-	int (*fd)(struct node *n);
+	int (*poll_fds)(struct node *n, int fds[]);
 
 	/** Return a memory allocator which should be used for sample pools passed to this node. */
 	struct memory_type * (*memory_type)(struct node *n, struct memory_type *parent);
diff --git a/lib/node.c b/lib/node.c
index 0f517343d..6dc775f00 100644
--- a/lib/node.c
+++ b/lib/node.c
@@ -609,7 +609,10 @@ int node_reverse(struct node *n)
 	return node_type(n)->reverse ? node_type(n)->reverse(n) : -1;
 }
 
-int node_fd(struct node *n)
+int node_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
+{
+	return node_type(n)->poll_fds ? node_type(n)->poll_fds(n, fds) : -1;
+}
 {
 	return node_type(n)->fd ? node_type(n)->fd(n) : -1;
 }
diff --git a/lib/nodes/amqp.c b/lib/nodes/amqp.c
index f6f1b3f0a..d177545e5 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/amqp.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/amqp.c
@@ -356,13 +356,15 @@ int amqp_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *re
 	return cnt;
 }
 
-int amqp_fd(struct node *n)
+int amqp_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct amqp *a = n->_vd;
 
 	amqp_socket_t *sock = amqp_get_socket(a->consumer);
 
-	return amqp_socket_get_sockfd(sock);
+	fds[0] = amqp_socket_get_sockfd(sock);
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 int amqp_destroy(struct node *n)
@@ -404,7 +406,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.read		= amqp_read,
 		.write		= amqp_write,
 		.destroy	= amqp_destroy,
-		.fd		= amqp_fd
+		.poll_fds	= amqp_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/cbuilder.c b/lib/nodes/cbuilder.c
index 319a6a54b..af440804c 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/cbuilder.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/cbuilder.c
@@ -154,11 +154,13 @@ int cbuilder_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned
 	return 1;
 }
 
-int cbuilder_fd(struct node *n)
+int cbuilder_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct cbuilder *cb = (struct cbuilder *) n->_vd;
 
-	return cb->eventfd;
+	fds[0] = cb->eventfd;
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -173,7 +175,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.stop		= cbuilder_stop,
 		.read		= cbuilder_read,
 		.write		= cbuilder_write,
-		.fd		= cbuilder_fd
+		.poll_fds	= cbuilder_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/comedi.c b/lib/nodes/comedi.c
index 1963f313a..3f564f8db 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/comedi.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/comedi.c
@@ -978,10 +978,13 @@ void comedi_dump_cmd(comedi_cmd *cmd, int debug_level)
 	debug(LOG_COMEDI | debug_level, "stop:       %-8s %u", src, cmd->stop_arg);
 }
 
-int comedi_fd(struct node *n)
+int comedi_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct comedi *c = (struct comedi *) n->_vd;
-	return comedi_fileno(c->dev);
+
+	fds[0] = comedi_fileno(c->dev);
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -997,7 +1000,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.stop		= comedi_stop,
 		.read		= comedi_read,
 		.write		= comedi_write,
-	    .fd			= comedi_fd
+		.poll_fds	= comedi_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/file.c b/lib/nodes/file.c
index b87207273..f854ecb0d 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/file.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/file.c
@@ -421,15 +421,19 @@ int file_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *re
 	return cnt;
 }
 
-int file_fd(struct node *n)
+int file_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct file *f = (struct file *) n->_vd;
 
-	if (f->rate)
-		return task_fd(&f->task);
+	if (f->rate) {
+		fds[0] = task_fd(&f->task);
+		return 1;
+	}
 	else {
-		if (f->epoch_mode == FILE_EPOCH_ORIGINAL)
-			return io_fd(&f->io);
+		if (f->epoch_mode == FILE_EPOCH_ORIGINAL) {
+			fds[0] = io_fd(&f->io);
+			return 1;
+		}
 		else
 			return -1; /** @todo not supported yet */
 	}
@@ -449,7 +453,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.restart	= file_restart,
 		.read		= file_read,
 		.write		= file_write,
-		.fd		= file_fd
+		.poll_fds	= file_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/iec61850_sv.c b/lib/nodes/iec61850_sv.c
index aefff482a..25c7d481a 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/iec61850_sv.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/iec61850_sv.c
@@ -416,11 +416,13 @@ int iec61850_sv_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsig
 	return cnt;
 }
 
-int iec61850_sv_fd(struct node *n)
+int iec61850_sv_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct iec61850_sv *i = (struct iec61850_sv *) n->_vd;
 
-	return queue_signalled_fd(&i->in.queue);
+	fds[0] = queue_signalled_fd(&i->in.queue);
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -439,7 +441,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.destroy	= iec61850_sv_destroy,
 		.read		= iec61850_sv_read,
 		.write		= iec61850_sv_write,
-		.fd		= iec61850_sv_fd
+		.poll_fds	= iec61850_sv_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/loopback.c b/lib/nodes/loopback.c
index 2c0b06802..8dd864d6e 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/loopback.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/loopback.c
@@ -136,11 +136,13 @@ char * loopback_print(struct node *n)
 	return buf;
 }
 
-int loopback_fd(struct node *n)
+int loopback_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct loopback *l = (struct loopback *) n->_vd;
 
-	return queue_signalled_fd(&l->queue);
+	fds[0] = queue_signalled_fd(&l->queue);
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -149,15 +151,15 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 	.type = PLUGIN_TYPE_NODE,
 	.node = {
 		.vectorize = 0,
-		.flags	= NODE_TYPE_PROVIDES_SIGNALS,
-		.size	= sizeof(struct loopback),
-		.parse	= loopback_parse,
-		.print	= loopback_print,
-		.start	= loopback_start,
-		.stop	= loopback_stop,
-		.read	= loopback_read,
-		.write	= loopback_write,
-		.fd	= loopback_fd
+		.flags		= NODE_TYPE_PROVIDES_SIGNALS,
+		.size		= sizeof(struct loopback),
+		.parse		= loopback_parse,
+		.print		= loopback_print,
+		.start		= loopback_start,
+		.stop		= loopback_stop,
+		.read		= loopback_read,
+		.write		= loopback_write,
+		.poll_fds	= loopback_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/mqtt.c b/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
index d6d118f56..1cd0b410a 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
@@ -406,18 +406,19 @@ int mqtt_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *re
 			return -abs(ret);
 		}
 	}
-	else {
-        	warning("MQTT: no publish for node %s possible because no publish topic is given", node_name(n));
-	}
+	else
+		warning("MQTT: no publish for node %s possible because no publish topic is given", node_name(n));
 
 	return cnt;
 }
 
-int mqtt_fd(struct node *n)
+int mqtt_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct mqtt *m = (struct mqtt *) n->_vd;
 
-	return queue_signalled_fd(&m->queue);
+	fds[0] = queue_signalled_fd(&m->queue);
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -437,7 +438,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.stop		= mqtt_stop,
 		.read		= mqtt_read,
 		.write		= mqtt_write,
-		.fd		= mqtt_fd
+		.poll_fds	= mqtt_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/nanomsg.c b/lib/nodes/nanomsg.c
index a9dc4b191..990766430 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/nanomsg.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/nanomsg.c
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ int nanomsg_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned
 	return cnt;
 }
 
-int nanomsg_fd(struct node *n)
+int nanomsg_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	int ret;
 	struct nanomsg *m = (struct nanomsg *) n->_vd;
@@ -276,7 +276,9 @@ int nanomsg_fd(struct node *n)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	return fd;
+	fds[0] = fd;
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -294,7 +296,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.stop		= nanomsg_stop,
 		.read		= nanomsg_read,
 		.write		= nanomsg_write,
-		.fd		= nanomsg_fd
+		.poll_fds	= nanomsg_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/ngsi.c b/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
index d576d2e42..489ec059e 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/ngsi.c
@@ -572,11 +572,13 @@ int ngsi_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned *re
 	return ret ? 0 : cnt;
 }
 
-int ngsi_fd(struct node *n)
+int ngsi_poll_fds(struct node *n)
 {
 	struct ngsi *i = (struct ngsi *) n->_vd;
 
-	return task_fd(&i->task);
+	fds[0] = task_fd(&i->task);
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -594,7 +596,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.stop		= ngsi_stop,
 		.read		= ngsi_read,
 		.write		= ngsi_write,
-		.fd		= ngsi_fd
+		.poll_fds	= ngsi_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/signal_generator.c b/lib/nodes/signal_generator.c
index e33bb6b96..18812bf00 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/signal_generator.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/signal_generator.c
@@ -289,11 +289,13 @@ char * signal_generator_print(struct node *n)
 	return buf;
 }
 
-int signal_generator_fd(struct node *n)
+int signal_generator_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct signal_generator *s = (struct signal_generator *) n->_vd;
 
-	return task_fd(&s->task);
+	fds[0] = task_fd(&s->task);
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -309,7 +311,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.start		= signal_generator_start,
 		.stop		= signal_generator_stop,
 		.read		= signal_generator_read,
-		.fd		= signal_generator_fd
+		.poll_fds	= signal_generator_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/socket.c b/lib/nodes/socket.c
index 3ae0bdd70..8c2350705 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/socket.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/socket.c
@@ -844,11 +844,13 @@ int socket_compare_addr(struct sockaddr *x, struct sockaddr *y)
 #undef CMP
 }
 
-int socket_fd(struct node *n)
+int socket_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct socket *s = (struct socket *) n->_vd;
 
-	return s->sd;
+	fds[0] = s->sd;
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -873,7 +875,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.stop		= socket_stop,
 		.read		= socket_read,
 		.write		= socket_write,
-		.fd		= socket_fd
+		.poll_fds	= socket_fds,
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/stats.c b/lib/nodes/stats.c
index bf76d17de..643097919 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/stats.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/stats.c
@@ -197,11 +197,13 @@ int stats_node_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigne
 	return 1;
 }
 
-int stats_node_fd(struct node *n)
+int stats_node_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct stats_node *s = (struct stats_node *) n->_vd;
 
-	return task_fd(&s->task);
+	fds[0] = task_fd(&s->task);
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -219,7 +221,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.start		= stats_node_start,
 		.stop		= stats_node_stop,
 		.read		= stats_node_read,
-		.fd		= stats_node_fd
+		.poll_fds	= stats_node_poll_fds,
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/test_rtt.c b/lib/nodes/test_rtt.c
index 7eaf5770e..01e5921ac 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/test_rtt.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/test_rtt.c
@@ -380,11 +380,13 @@ int test_rtt_write(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt, unsigned
 	return i;
 }
 
-int test_rtt_fd(struct node *n)
+int test_rtt_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct test_rtt *t = (struct test_rtt *) n->_vd;
 
-	return task_fd(&t->task);
+	fds[0] = task_fd(&t->task);
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -402,7 +404,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.stop		= test_rtt_stop,
 		.read		= test_rtt_read,
 		.write		= test_rtt_write,
-		.fd		= test_rtt_fd
+		.poll_fds	= test_rtt_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/websocket.c b/lib/nodes/websocket.c
index 853eac391..80ec10f7a 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/websocket.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/websocket.c
@@ -602,11 +602,13 @@ char * websocket_print(struct node *n)
 	return buf;
 }
 
-int websocket_fd(struct node *n)
+int websocket_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	struct websocket *w = (struct websocket *) n->_vd;
 
-	return queue_signalled_fd(&w->queue);
+	fds[0] = queue_signalled_fd(&w->queue);
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -624,7 +626,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.write		= websocket_write,
 		.print		= websocket_print,
 		.parse		= websocket_parse,
-		.fd		= websocket_fd
+		.poll_fds	= websocket_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/nodes/zeromq.c b/lib/nodes/zeromq.c
index 3a17aa1f6..642fad8ad 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/zeromq.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/zeromq.c
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ fail:
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int zeromq_fd(struct node *n)
+int zeromq_poll_fds(struct node *n, int fds[])
 {
 	int ret;
 	struct zeromq *z = (struct zeromq *) n->_vd;
@@ -537,7 +537,9 @@ int zeromq_fd(struct node *n)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	return fd;
+	fds[0] = fd;
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 static struct plugin p = {
@@ -557,7 +559,7 @@ static struct plugin p = {
 		.destroy	= zeromq_destroy,
 		.read		= zeromq_read,
 		.write		= zeromq_write,
-		.fd		= zeromq_fd
+		.poll_fds	= zeromq_poll_fds
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/lib/path.c b/lib/path.c
index d8595931a..68ffa39a0 100644
--- a/lib/path.c
+++ b/lib/path.c
@@ -365,12 +365,17 @@ int path_init_poll(struct path *p)
 	for (int i = 0; i < vlist_length(&p->sources); i++) {
 		struct path_source *ps = (struct path_source *) vlist_at(&p->sources, i);
 
-		/* This slot is only used if it is not masked */
-		p->reader.pfds[i].events = POLLIN;
-		p->reader.pfds[i].fd = node_fd(ps->node);
+		int fds[16];
+		int num_fds = node_poll_fds(ps->node, fds);
 
-		if (p->reader.pfds[i].fd < 0)
-			error("Failed to get file descriptor for node %s", node_name(ps->node));
+		for (int i = 0; i < num_fds; i++) {
+			if (fds[i] < 0)
+				error("Failed to get file descriptor for node %s", node_name(ps->node));
+
+			/* This slot is only used if it is not masked */
+			p->reader.pfds[i].events = POLLIN;
+			p->reader.pfds[i].fd = fds[i];
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* We use the last slot for the timeout timer. */
@@ -641,7 +646,10 @@ int path_parse(struct path *p, json_t *cfg, struct vlist *nodes)
 	if (p->poll == -1) {
 		struct path_source *ps = (struct path_source *) vlist_at(&p->sources, 0);
 
-		p->poll = (p->rate > 0 || vlist_length(&p->sources) > 1) && node_fd(ps->node) != -1;
+		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;
 	}
 
 	ret = vlist_destroy(&sources, NULL, false);