diff --git a/include/linux/hyperv.h b/include/linux/hyperv.h
index f773a68..acd995b 100644
--- a/include/linux/hyperv.h
+++ b/include/linux/hyperv.h
@@ -630,6 +630,11 @@
 	struct hv_input_signal_event event;
 };
 
+enum hv_signal_policy {
+	HV_SIGNAL_POLICY_DEFAULT = 0,
+	HV_SIGNAL_POLICY_EXPLICIT,
+};
+
 struct vmbus_channel {
 	/* Unique channel id */
 	int id;
@@ -757,8 +762,21 @@
 	 * link up channels based on their CPU affinity.
 	 */
 	struct list_head percpu_list;
+	/*
+	 * Host signaling policy: The default policy will be
+	 * based on the ring buffer state. We will also support
+	 * a policy where the client driver can have explicit
+	 * signaling control.
+	 */
+	enum hv_signal_policy  signal_policy;
 };
 
+static inline void set_channel_signal_state(struct vmbus_channel *c,
+					    enum hv_signal_policy policy)
+{
+	c->signal_policy = policy;
+}
+
 static inline void set_channel_read_state(struct vmbus_channel *c, bool state)
 {
 	c->batched_reading = state;