diff --git a/ws4py/manager.py b/ws4py/manager.py
index 0b726b0..89169f2 100644
--- a/ws4py/manager.py
+++ b/ws4py/manager.py
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ def poll(self):
         Polls once and returns a list of
         ready-to-be-read file descriptors.
         """
+        if not self._fds:
+            return []
+
         r, w, x = select.select(self._fds, [], [], self.timeout)
         return r