diff --git a/src/platform/posix/CMakeLists.txt b/src/platform/posix/CMakeLists.txt
index 6f3dfcafa..aeedddb9c 100644
--- a/src/platform/posix/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/platform/posix/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ if (NNG_PLATFORM_POSIX)
     nng_check_sym(port_create port.h NNG_HAVE_PORT_CREATE)
     nng_check_sym(epoll_create sys/epoll.h NNG_HAVE_EPOLL)
     nng_check_sym(epoll_create1 sys/epoll.h NNG_HAVE_EPOLL_CREATE1)
+    nng_check_sym(poll poll.h NNG_HAVE_POLL)
+    nng_check_sym(select sys/select.h NNG_HAVE_SELECT)
     nng_check_sym(getpeereid unistd.h NNG_HAVE_GETPEEREID)
     nng_check_sym(SO_PEERCRED sys/socket.h NNG_HAVE_SOPEERCRED)
     nng_check_struct_member(sockpeercred uid sys/socket.h NNG_HAVE_SOCKPEERCRED)
@@ -101,14 +103,48 @@ if (NNG_PLATFORM_POSIX)
             posix_udp.c
     )
 
-    if (NNG_HAVE_PORT_CREATE)
-        nng_sources(posix_pollq_port.c)
+    set(NNG_POLLQ_POLLER "auto" CACHE STRING "Poller used for multiplexing I/O")
+    set_property(CACHE NNG_POLLQ_POLLER PROPERTY STRINGS auto ports kqueue epoll poll select)
+    mark_as_advanced(NNG_POLLQ_POLLER)
+    if (NNG_POLLQ_POLLER STREQUAL "ports")
+        nng_defines(NNG_POLLQ_PORTS)
+    elseif (NNG_POLLQ_POLLER STREQUAL "kqueue")
+        nng_defines(NNG_POLLQ_KQUEUE)
+    elseif (NNG_POLLQ_POLLER STREQUAL "epoll")
+        nng_defines(NNG_POLLQ_EPOLL)
+    elseif (NNG_POLLQ_POLLER STREQUAL "poll")
+        nng_defines(NNG_POLLQ_POLL)
+    elseif (NNG_POLLQ_POLLER STREQUAL "select")
+        set(NNG_POLLQ_SELECT ON)
+    elseif (NNG_HAVE_PORT_CREATE)
+        set(NNG_POLLQ_PORTS ON)
     elseif (NNG_HAVE_KQUEUE)
-        nng_sources(posix_pollq_kqueue.c)
+        set(NNG_POLLQ_KQUEUE ON)
     elseif (NNG_HAVE_EPOLL AND NNG_HAVE_EVENTFD)
+        set(NNG_POLLQ_EPOLL ON)
+    elseif (NNG_HAVE_POLL)
+        set(NNG_POLLQ_POLL ON)
+    elseif (NNG_HAVE_SELECT)
+        set(NNG_POLLQ_SELECT TRUE)
+    endif()
+
+    if (NNG_POLLQ_PORTS)
+        message(STATUS "Using port events for multiplexing I/O.")
+        nng_sources(posix_pollq_port.c)
+    elseif (NNG_POLLQ_KQUEUE)
+        message(STATUS "Using kqueue for multiplexing I/O.")
+        nng_sources(posix_pollq_kqueue.c)
+    elseif (NNG_POLLQ_EPOLL)
+        message(DEBUG "Using epoll for multiplexing I/O.")
         nng_sources(posix_pollq_epoll.c)
-    else ()
+    elseif (NNG_POLLQ_POLL)
+        message(STATUS "Using poll for multiplexing I/O.")
         nng_sources(posix_pollq_poll.c)
+    elseif (NNG_POLLQ_SELECT)
+        message(STATUS "Using select for multiplexing I/O.")
+        nng_sources(posix_pollq_select.c)
+    else()
+        message(FATAL_ERROR "No suitable poller found for multiplexing I/O.")
     endif ()
 
     if (NNG_HAVE_ARC4RANDOM)
diff --git a/src/platform/posix/posix_ipcconn.c b/src/platform/posix/posix_ipcconn.c
index 8b11b64fa..a198b87f4 100644
--- a/src/platform/posix/posix_ipcconn.c
+++ b/src/platform/posix/posix_ipcconn.c
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ ipc_send(void *arg, nni_aio *aio)
 		// means we didn't finish the job, so arm the poller to
 		// complete us.
 		if (nni_list_first(&c->writeq) == aio) {
-			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, POLLOUT);
+			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, NNI_POLL_OUT);
 		}
 	}
 	nni_mtx_unlock(&c->mtx);
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ ipc_recv(void *arg, nni_aio *aio)
 		// means we didn't finish the job, so arm the poller to
 		// complete us.
 		if (nni_list_first(&c->readq) == aio) {
-			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, POLLIN);
+			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, NNI_POLL_IN);
 		}
 	}
 	nni_mtx_unlock(&c->mtx);
diff --git a/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq.h b/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq.h
index 76105acc4..8dc92fb1d 100644
--- a/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq.h
+++ b/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq.h
@@ -32,11 +32,20 @@ extern int  nni_posix_pfd_fd(nni_posix_pfd *);
 extern void nni_posix_pfd_close(nni_posix_pfd *);
 extern void nni_posix_pfd_set_cb(nni_posix_pfd *, nni_posix_pfd_cb, void *);
 
+#ifdef POLLIN
 #define NNI_POLL_IN ((unsigned) POLLIN)
 #define NNI_POLL_OUT ((unsigned) POLLOUT)
 #define NNI_POLL_HUP ((unsigned) POLLHUP)
 #define NNI_POLL_ERR ((unsigned) POLLERR)
 #define NNI_POLL_INVAL ((unsigned) POLLNVAL)
+#else
+// maybe using select
+#define NNI_POLL_IN (0x0001)
+#define NNI_POLL_OUT (0x0010)
+#define NNI_POLL_HUP (0x0004)
+#define NNI_POLL_ERR (0x0008)
+#define NNI_POLL_INVAL (0x0020)
+#endif // POLLIN
 
 #endif // NNG_PLATFORM_POSIX
 
diff --git a/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq_kqueue.c b/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq_kqueue.c
index ae1b2f471..562c888e4 100644
--- a/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq_kqueue.c
+++ b/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq_kqueue.c
@@ -198,10 +198,10 @@ nni_posix_pfd_arm(nni_posix_pfd *pf, unsigned events)
 		return (0);
 	}
 
-	if (events & POLLIN) {
+	if (events & NNI_POLL_IN) {
 		EV_SET(&ev[nev++], pf->fd, EVFILT_READ, flags, 0, 0, pf);
 	}
-	if (events & POLLOUT) {
+	if (events & NNI_POLL_OUT) {
 		EV_SET(&ev[nev++], pf->fd, EVFILT_WRITE, flags, 0, 0, pf);
 	}
 	while (kevent(pq->kq, ev, nev, NULL, 0, NULL) != 0) {
@@ -254,10 +254,10 @@ nni_posix_poll_thr(void *arg)
 
 			switch (ev->filter) {
 			case EVFILT_READ:
-				revents = POLLIN;
+				revents = NNI_POLL_IN;
 				break;
 			case EVFILT_WRITE:
-				revents = POLLOUT;
+				revents = NNI_POLL_OUT;
 				break;
 			}
 			if (ev->udata == NULL) {
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ nni_posix_poll_thr(void *arg)
 			}
 			pf = (void *) ev->udata;
 			if (ev->flags & EV_ERROR) {
-				revents |= POLLHUP;
+				revents |= NNI_POLL_HUP;
 			}
 
 			nni_mtx_lock(&pf->mtx);
diff --git a/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq_select.c b/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq_select.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3213aa116
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/platform/posix/posix_pollq_select.c
@@ -0,0 +1,331 @@
+//
+// Copyright 2024 Staysail Systems, Inc. <info@staysail.tech>
+// Copyright 2018 Capitar IT Group BV <info@capitar.com>
+//
+// This software is supplied under the terms of the MIT License, a
+// copy of which should be located in the distribution where this
+// file was obtained (LICENSE.txt).  A copy of the license may also be
+// found online at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT.
+//
+
+#include "core/defs.h"
+#include "core/nng_impl.h"
+#include "platform/posix/posix_pollq.h"
+
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <sys/select.h>
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+// POSIX AIO using select().  We use a single poll thread to perform
+// I/O operations for the entire system.  This is the worst form of
+// I/O multiplexing, but short of using threads or spin-polling from
+// a single thread, this is our only reasonable solution.
+//
+// Note that select() is not scalable, and we will be limited to a small
+// number of open files/sockets.  As such it is is not suitable for use
+// on large servers. However, this may be enough for use in constrained
+// systems that are not likely to have many open files anyway.
+//
+
+typedef struct nni_posix_pollq nni_posix_pollq;
+
+struct nni_posix_pollq {
+	nni_mtx               mtx;
+	int                   wakewfd; // write side of waker pipe
+	int                   wakerfd; // read side of waker pipe
+	bool                  closing; // request for worker to exit
+	bool                  closed;
+	nni_thr               thr; // worker thread
+	int                   maxfd;
+	struct nni_posix_pfd *pfds[FD_SETSIZE];
+};
+
+struct nni_posix_pfd {
+	nni_posix_pollq *pq;
+	int              fd;
+	nni_cv           cv;
+	nni_mtx          mtx;
+	unsigned         events;
+	nni_posix_pfd_cb cb;
+	void            *arg;
+	bool             reap;
+};
+
+static nni_posix_pollq nni_posix_global_pollq;
+
+int
+nni_posix_pfd_init(nni_posix_pfd **pfdp, int fd)
+{
+	nni_posix_pfd   *pfd;
+	nni_posix_pollq *pq = &nni_posix_global_pollq;
+
+	// Set this is as soon as possible (narrow the close-exec race as
+	// much as we can; better options are system calls that suppress
+	// this behavior from descriptor creation.)
+	(void) fcntl(fd, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC);
+	(void) fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, O_NONBLOCK);
+
+	if ((pfd = NNI_ALLOC_STRUCT(pfd)) == NULL) {
+		return (NNG_ENOMEM);
+	}
+	if (fd >= FD_SETSIZE) {
+		return (NNG_EINVAL);
+	}
+	nni_mtx_init(&pfd->mtx);
+	nni_cv_init(&pfd->cv, &pq->mtx);
+	pfd->fd     = fd;
+	pfd->events = 0;
+	pfd->cb     = NULL;
+	pfd->arg    = NULL;
+	pfd->pq     = pq;
+	nni_mtx_lock(&pq->mtx);
+	if (pq->closing) {
+		nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+		nni_cv_fini(&pfd->cv);
+		nni_mtx_fini(&pfd->mtx);
+		NNI_FREE_STRUCT(pfd);
+		return (NNG_ECLOSED);
+	}
+	pq->pfds[fd] = pfd;
+	if (fd > pq->maxfd) {
+		pq->maxfd = fd;
+	}
+	nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+	*pfdp = pfd;
+	return (0);
+}
+
+void
+nni_posix_pfd_set_cb(nni_posix_pfd *pfd, nni_posix_pfd_cb cb, void *arg)
+{
+	nni_mtx_lock(&pfd->mtx);
+	pfd->cb  = cb;
+	pfd->arg = arg;
+	nni_mtx_unlock(&pfd->mtx);
+}
+
+int
+nni_posix_pfd_fd(nni_posix_pfd *pfd)
+{
+	return (pfd->fd);
+}
+
+void
+nni_posix_pfd_close(nni_posix_pfd *pfd)
+{
+	(void) shutdown(pfd->fd, SHUT_RDWR);
+}
+
+void
+nni_posix_pfd_fini(nni_posix_pfd *pfd)
+{
+	nni_posix_pollq *pq = pfd->pq;
+	int              fd = pfd->fd;
+
+	nni_posix_pfd_close(pfd);
+
+	nni_mtx_lock(&pq->mtx);
+	if ((!nni_thr_is_self(&pq->thr)) && (!pq->closed)) {
+		pfd->reap = true;
+		nni_plat_pipe_raise(pq->wakewfd);
+		while (pfd->reap) {
+			nni_cv_wait(&pfd->cv);
+		}
+	} else {
+		pq->pfds[fd] = NULL;
+	}
+	nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+
+	// We're exclusive now.
+	(void) close(fd);
+	nni_cv_fini(&pfd->cv);
+	nni_mtx_fini(&pfd->mtx);
+	NNI_FREE_STRUCT(pfd);
+}
+
+int
+nni_posix_pfd_arm(nni_posix_pfd *pfd, unsigned events)
+{
+	nni_posix_pollq *pq = pfd->pq;
+
+	nni_mtx_lock(&pq->mtx);
+	pfd->events |= events;
+	nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+
+	// If we're running on the callback, then don't bother to kick
+	// the pollq again.  This is necessary because we cannot modify
+	// the poller while it is polling.
+	if (!nni_thr_is_self(&pq->thr)) {
+		nni_plat_pipe_raise(pq->wakewfd);
+	}
+	return (0);
+}
+
+static void
+nni_posix_poll_thr(void *arg)
+{
+	nni_posix_pollq *pq = arg;
+	fd_set           rfds;
+	fd_set           wfds;
+	fd_set           efds;
+	int              maxfd;
+
+	for (;;) {
+		unsigned       events;
+		nni_posix_pfd *pfd;
+
+		FD_ZERO(&rfds);
+		FD_ZERO(&wfds);
+		FD_ZERO(&efds);
+
+		// The waker pipe is set up so that we will be woken
+		// when it is written (this allows us to be signaled).
+		FD_SET(pq->wakerfd, &rfds);
+		FD_SET(pq->wakerfd, &efds);
+
+		nni_plat_pipe_clear(pq->wakerfd);
+		nni_mtx_lock(&pq->mtx);
+
+		// If we're closing down, bail now.  This is done *after* we
+		// have ensured that the reapq is empty.  Anything still in
+		// the pollq is not going to receive further callbacks.
+		if (pq->closing) {
+			for (int fd = 0; fd <= pq->maxfd; fd++) {
+				if ((pfd = pq->pfds[fd]) != NULL) {
+					pq->pfds[fd] = NULL;
+					pfd->reap    = false;
+					nni_cv_wake(&pfd->cv);
+				}
+			}
+			pq->closed = true;
+			nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+			break;
+		}
+
+		// Set up the poll list.
+		maxfd = pq->wakerfd;
+		for (int fd = 0; fd <= pq->maxfd; fd++) {
+			if ((pfd = pq->pfds[fd]) == NULL) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			NNI_ASSERT(pfd->fd == fd);
+			if (pfd->reap) {
+				pq->pfds[fd] = NULL;
+				pfd->reap    = false;
+				nni_cv_wake(&pfd->cv);
+				continue;
+			}
+			events = pfd->events;
+
+			if (events != 0) {
+				if (events & NNI_POLL_IN) {
+					FD_SET(fd, &rfds);
+				}
+				if (events & NNI_POLL_OUT) {
+					FD_SET(fd, &wfds);
+				}
+				FD_SET(fd, &efds);
+				if (maxfd < fd) {
+					maxfd = fd;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		while (pq->maxfd > 0 && (pq->pfds[pq->maxfd] == NULL)) {
+			pq->maxfd--;
+		}
+		nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+
+		// We could get the result from poll, and avoid iterating
+		// over the entire set of pollfds, but since on average we
+		// will be walking half the list, doubling the work we do
+		// (the condition with a potential pipeline stall) seems like
+		// adding complexity with no real benefit.  It also makes the
+		// worst case even worse.
+		(void) select(maxfd + 1, &rfds, &wfds, &efds, NULL);
+
+		nni_mtx_lock(&pq->mtx);
+		for (int fd = 0; fd <= maxfd; fd++) {
+			events = 0;
+			if (FD_ISSET(fd, &rfds)) {
+				events |= NNI_POLL_IN;
+			}
+			if (FD_ISSET(fd, &wfds)) {
+				events |= NNI_POLL_OUT;
+			}
+			if (FD_ISSET(fd, &efds)) {
+				events |= NNI_POLL_HUP;
+			}
+			if (events != 0) {
+				nni_posix_pfd_cb cb = NULL;
+				void            *arg;
+				if ((pfd = pq->pfds[fd]) != NULL) {
+					cb  = pfd->cb;
+					arg = pfd->arg;
+					pfd->events &= ~events;
+				}
+
+				if (cb) {
+					nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+					cb(pfd, events, arg);
+					nni_mtx_lock(&pq->mtx);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+nni_posix_pollq_destroy(nni_posix_pollq *pq)
+{
+	nni_mtx_lock(&pq->mtx);
+	pq->closing = true;
+	nni_mtx_unlock(&pq->mtx);
+
+	nni_plat_pipe_raise(pq->wakewfd);
+
+	close(pq->wakewfd);
+	nni_thr_fini(&pq->thr);
+	close(pq->wakerfd);
+	// nni_plat_pipe_close(pq->wakewfd, pq->wakerfd);
+	nni_mtx_fini(&pq->mtx);
+}
+
+static int
+nni_posix_pollq_create(nni_posix_pollq *pq)
+{
+	int rv;
+
+	pq->closing = false;
+	pq->closed  = false;
+
+	if ((rv = nni_plat_pipe_open(&pq->wakewfd, &pq->wakerfd)) != 0) {
+		return (rv);
+	}
+	if ((rv = nni_thr_init(&pq->thr, nni_posix_poll_thr, pq)) != 0) {
+		nni_plat_pipe_close(pq->wakewfd, pq->wakerfd);
+		return (rv);
+	}
+	nni_thr_set_name(&pq->thr, "nng:poll:select");
+	nni_mtx_init(&pq->mtx);
+	nni_thr_run(&pq->thr);
+	return (0);
+}
+
+int
+nni_posix_pollq_sysinit(nng_init_params *params)
+{
+	NNI_ARG_UNUSED(params);
+	return (nni_posix_pollq_create(&nni_posix_global_pollq));
+}
+
+void
+nni_posix_pollq_sysfini(void)
+{
+	nni_posix_pollq_destroy(&nni_posix_global_pollq);
+}
diff --git a/src/platform/posix/posix_sockfd.c b/src/platform/posix/posix_sockfd.c
index 997feae6b..8ccca66c3 100644
--- a/src/platform/posix/posix_sockfd.c
+++ b/src/platform/posix/posix_sockfd.c
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ sfd_send(void *arg, nni_aio *aio)
 		// means we didn't finish the job, so arm the poller to
 		// complete us.
 		if (nni_list_first(&c->writeq) == aio) {
-			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, POLLOUT);
+			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, NNI_POLL_OUT);
 		}
 	}
 	nni_mtx_unlock(&c->mtx);
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ sfd_recv(void *arg, nni_aio *aio)
 		// means we didn't finish the job, so arm the poller to
 		// complete us.
 		if (nni_list_first(&c->readq) == aio) {
-			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, POLLIN);
+			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, NNI_POLL_IN);
 		}
 	}
 	nni_mtx_unlock(&c->mtx);
diff --git a/src/platform/posix/posix_tcpconn.c b/src/platform/posix/posix_tcpconn.c
index ce5243b03..d49fc838c 100644
--- a/src/platform/posix/posix_tcpconn.c
+++ b/src/platform/posix/posix_tcpconn.c
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ tcp_send(void *arg, nni_aio *aio)
 		// means we didn't finish the job, so arm the poller to
 		// complete us.
 		if (nni_list_first(&c->writeq) == aio) {
-			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, POLLOUT);
+			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, NNI_POLL_OUT);
 		}
 	}
 	nni_mtx_unlock(&c->mtx);
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ tcp_recv(void *arg, nni_aio *aio)
 		// means we didn't finish the job, so arm the poller to
 		// complete us.
 		if (nni_list_first(&c->readq) == aio) {
-			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, POLLIN);
+			nni_posix_pfd_arm(c->pfd, NNI_POLL_IN);
 		}
 	}
 	nni_mtx_unlock(&c->mtx);
diff --git a/src/platform/posix/posix_udp.c b/src/platform/posix/posix_udp.c
index a7eb71440..8d0d4a420 100644
--- a/src/platform/posix/posix_udp.c
+++ b/src/platform/posix/posix_udp.c
@@ -181,22 +181,21 @@ nni_posix_udp_cb(nni_posix_pfd *pfd, unsigned events, void *arg)
 	NNI_ARG_UNUSED(pfd);
 
 	nni_mtx_lock(&udp->udp_mtx);
-	if (events & (unsigned) POLLIN) {
+	if (events & NNI_POLL_IN) {
 		nni_posix_udp_dorecv(udp);
 	}
-	if (events & (unsigned) POLLOUT) {
+	if (events & NNI_POLL_OUT) {
 		nni_posix_udp_dosend(udp);
 	}
-	if (events &
-	    ((unsigned) POLLHUP | (unsigned) POLLERR | (unsigned) POLLNVAL)) {
+	if (events & (NNI_POLL_HUP | NNI_POLL_ERR | NNI_POLL_INVAL)) {
 		nni_posix_udp_doclose(udp);
 	} else {
 		events = 0;
 		if (!nni_list_empty(&udp->udp_sendq)) {
-			events |= (unsigned) POLLOUT;
+			events |= NNI_POLL_OUT;
 		}
 		if (!nni_list_empty(&udp->udp_recvq)) {
-			events |= (unsigned) POLLIN;
+			events |= NNI_POLL_IN;
 		}
 		if (events) {
 			int rv;
@@ -299,7 +298,7 @@ nni_plat_udp_recv(nni_plat_udp *udp, nni_aio *aio)
 	}
 	nni_list_append(&udp->udp_recvq, aio);
 	if (nni_list_first(&udp->udp_recvq) == aio) {
-		if ((rv = nni_posix_pfd_arm(udp->udp_pfd, POLLIN)) != 0) {
+		if ((rv = nni_posix_pfd_arm(udp->udp_pfd, NNI_POLL_IN)) != 0) {
 			nni_aio_list_remove(aio);
 			nni_aio_finish_error(aio, rv);
 		}
@@ -322,7 +321,8 @@ nni_plat_udp_send(nni_plat_udp *udp, nni_aio *aio)
 	}
 	nni_list_append(&udp->udp_sendq, aio);
 	if (nni_list_first(&udp->udp_sendq) == aio) {
-		if ((rv = nni_posix_pfd_arm(udp->udp_pfd, POLLOUT)) != 0) {
+		if ((rv = nni_posix_pfd_arm(udp->udp_pfd, NNI_POLL_OUT)) !=
+		    0) {
 			nni_aio_list_remove(aio);
 			nni_aio_finish_error(aio, rv);
 		}