diff --git a/Net/include/Poco/Net/SocketReactor.h b/Net/include/Poco/Net/SocketReactor.h
index cd14d96150..57aa51b916 100644
--- a/Net/include/Poco/Net/SocketReactor.h
+++ b/Net/include/Poco/Net/SocketReactor.h
@@ -186,6 +186,9 @@ class Net_API SocketReactor: public Poco::Runnable
 		/// until stop() is called (in a separate thread).
 		/// Can be overriden by inheriting classes.
 
+	void start();
+		/// Starts the SocketReactor.
+
 	void stop();
 		/// Stops the SocketReactor.
 		///
diff --git a/Net/src/SocketReactor.cpp b/Net/src/SocketReactor.cpp
index 41e9250ea4..0aebd5bb37 100644
--- a/Net/src/SocketReactor.cpp
+++ b/Net/src/SocketReactor.cpp
@@ -157,6 +157,12 @@ void SocketReactor::sleep()
 }
 
 
+void SocketReactor::start()
+{
+	_stop.exchange(false);
+}
+
+
 void SocketReactor::stop()
 {
 	if (_stop.exchange(true)) return;