diff --git a/hw/net/sunhme.c b/hw/net/sunhme.c
index e3a488ee1d..14e7effb88 100644
--- a/hw/net/sunhme.c
+++ b/hw/net/sunhme.c
@@ -373,10 +373,20 @@ static void sunhme_mac_write(void *opaque, hwaddr addr,
                           uint64_t val, unsigned size)
 {
     SunHMEState *s = SUNHME(opaque);
+    uint64_t oldval = s->macregs[addr >> 2];
 
     trace_sunhme_mac_write(addr, val);
 
     s->macregs[addr >> 2] = val;
+
+    switch (addr) {
+    case HME_MACI_RXCFG:
+        if (!(oldval & HME_MAC_RXCFG_ENABLE) &&
+             (val & HME_MAC_RXCFG_ENABLE)) {
+            qemu_flush_queued_packets(qemu_get_queue(s->nic));
+        }
+        break;
+    }
 }
 
 static uint64_t sunhme_mac_read(void *opaque, hwaddr addr,