diff --git a/src/drivers/net/ipoib.c b/src/drivers/net/ipoib.c
index 16b2a0c8..9c9bc918 100644
--- a/src/drivers/net/ipoib.c
+++ b/src/drivers/net/ipoib.c
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@
  * IP over Infiniband
  */
 
-/** IPoIB MTU */
-#define IPOIB_MTU 2048
-
 /** Number of IPoIB data send work queue entries */
 #define IPOIB_DATA_NUM_SEND_WQES 2
 
@@ -727,7 +724,7 @@ static void ipoib_refill_recv ( struct ipoib_device *ipoib,
 	int rc;
 
 	while ( qset->recv_fill < qset->recv_max_fill ) {
-		iobuf = alloc_iob ( IPOIB_MTU );
+		iobuf = alloc_iob ( IPOIB_PKT_LEN );
 		if ( ! iobuf )
 			break;
 		if ( ( rc = ib_post_recv ( ibdev, qset->qp, iobuf ) ) != 0 ) {
diff --git a/src/include/gpxe/ethernet.h b/src/include/gpxe/ethernet.h
index 158fe066..ff0fd6c1 100644
--- a/src/include/gpxe/ethernet.h
+++ b/src/include/gpxe/ethernet.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <gpxe/netdevice.h>
+#include <gpxe/if_ether.h>
 
 extern struct ll_protocol ethernet_protocol;
 
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ static inline struct net_device * alloc_etherdev ( size_t priv_size ) {
 	netdev = alloc_netdev ( priv_size );
 	if ( netdev ) {
 		netdev->ll_protocol = &ethernet_protocol;
+		netdev->max_pkt_len = ETH_FRAME_LEN;
 	}
 	return netdev;
 }
diff --git a/src/include/gpxe/ipoib.h b/src/include/gpxe/ipoib.h
index bcbdc4c6..3ec464e3 100644
--- a/src/include/gpxe/ipoib.h
+++ b/src/include/gpxe/ipoib.h
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
 
 #include <gpxe/infiniband.h>
 
+/** IPoIB packet length */
+#define IPOIB_PKT_LEN 2048
+
 /** IPoIB MAC address length */
 #define IPOIB_ALEN 20
 
@@ -68,6 +71,7 @@ static inline struct net_device * alloc_ipoibdev ( size_t priv_size ) {
 	netdev = alloc_netdev ( priv_size );
 	if ( netdev ) {
 		netdev->ll_protocol = &ipoib_protocol;
+		netdev->max_pkt_len = IPOIB_PKT_LEN;
 	}
 	return netdev;
 }
diff --git a/src/include/gpxe/netdevice.h b/src/include/gpxe/netdevice.h
index cdc8cbad..9f39e0c9 100644
--- a/src/include/gpxe/netdevice.h
+++ b/src/include/gpxe/netdevice.h
@@ -241,6 +241,11 @@ struct net_device {
 	 * This is the bitwise-OR of zero or more NETDEV_XXX constants.
 	 */
 	unsigned int state;
+	/** Maximum packet length
+	 *
+	 * This length includes any link-layer headers.
+	 */
+	size_t max_pkt_len;
 	/** TX packet queue */
 	struct list_head tx_queue;
 	/** RX packet queue */