diff --git a/inside.go b/inside.go
index 68cb38ec..2b0ad70c 100644
--- a/inside.go
+++ b/inside.go
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/iputil"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/noiseutil"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/batch"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
-func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet, nb, out []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
+func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet, nb []byte, sendBatch batch.TxBatcher, rejectBuf []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
 	err := newPacket(packet, false, fwPacket)
 	if err != nil {
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet
 		// routes packets from the Nebula addr to the Nebula addr through the Nebula
 		// TUN device.
 		if immediatelyForwardToSelf {
-			_, err := f.readers[q].Write(packet)
+			_, err := f.readers[q].WriteFromSelf(packet)
 			if err != nil {
 				f.l.Error("Failed to forward to tun", "error", err)
 			}
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet
 	})
 
 	if hostinfo == nil {
-		f.rejectInside(packet, out, q)
+		f.rejectInside(packet, rejectBuf, q)
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			f.l.Debug("dropping outbound packet, vpnAddr not in our vpn networks or in unsafe networks",
 				"vpnAddr", fwPacket.RemoteAddr,
@@ -73,10 +74,9 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet
 
 	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(*fwPacket, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
 	if dropReason == nil {
-		f.sendNoMetrics(header.Message, 0, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, netip.AddrPort{}, packet, nb, out, q)
-
+		f.sendInsideMessage(hostinfo, packet, nb, sendBatch, rejectBuf, q)
 	} else {
-		f.rejectInside(packet, out, q)
+		f.rejectInside(packet, rejectBuf, q)
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("dropping outbound packet",
 				"fwPacket", fwPacket,
@@ -86,6 +86,67 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet
 	}
 }
 
+// sendInsideMessage encrypts a firewall-approved inside packet into the
+// caller's batch slot for later sendmmsg flush. When hostinfo.remote is not
+// valid we fall through to the relay slow path via the unbatched sendNoMetrics
+// so relay behavior is unchanged.
+func (f *Interface) sendInsideMessage(hostinfo *HostInfo, p, nb []byte, sendBatch batch.TxBatcher, rejectBuf []byte, q int) {
+	ci := hostinfo.ConnectionState
+	if ci.eKey == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !hostinfo.remote.IsValid() {
+		// Slow path: relay fallback. Reuse rejectBuf as the ciphertext
+		// scratch; sendNoMetrics arranges header space for SendVia.
+		f.sendNoMetrics(header.Message, 0, ci, hostinfo, netip.AddrPort{}, p, nb, rejectBuf, q)
+		return
+	}
+
+	scratch := sendBatch.Next()
+	if scratch == nil {
+		// Batch full: bypass batching and send this packet directly so we
+		// never drop traffic on over-subscribed iterations.
+		f.sendNoMetrics(header.Message, 0, ci, hostinfo, netip.AddrPort{}, p, nb, rejectBuf, q)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if noiseutil.EncryptLockNeeded {
+		ci.writeLock.Lock()
+	}
+	c := ci.messageCounter.Add(1)
+
+	out := header.Encode(scratch, header.Version, header.Message, 0, hostinfo.remoteIndexId, c)
+	f.connectionManager.Out(hostinfo)
+
+	if hostinfo.lastRebindCount != f.rebindCount {
+		//NOTE: there is an update hole if a tunnel isn't used and exactly 256 rebinds occur before the tunnel is
+		// finally used again. This tunnel would eventually be torn down and recreated if this action didn't help.
+		f.lightHouse.QueryServer(hostinfo.vpnAddrs[0])
+		hostinfo.lastRebindCount = f.rebindCount
+		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("Lighthouse update triggered for punch due to rebind counter",
+				"vpnAddrs", hostinfo.vpnAddrs,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
+	out, err := ci.eKey.EncryptDanger(out, out, p, c, nb)
+	if noiseutil.EncryptLockNeeded {
+		ci.writeLock.Unlock()
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("Failed to encrypt outgoing packet",
+			"error", err,
+			"udpAddr", hostinfo.remote,
+			"counter", c,
+		)
+		return
+	}
+
+	sendBatch.Commit(len(out), hostinfo.remote)
+}
+
 func (f *Interface) rejectInside(packet []byte, out []byte, q int) {
 	if !f.firewall.InSendReject {
 		return
@@ -96,7 +157,7 @@ func (f *Interface) rejectInside(packet []byte, out []byte, q int) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	_, err := f.readers[q].Write(out)
+	_, err := f.readers[q].WriteFromSelf(out)
 	if err != nil {
 		f.l.Error("Failed to write to tun", "error", err)
 	}
diff --git a/interface.go b/interface.go
index 5fedcdd3..bc7e24d1 100644
--- a/interface.go
+++ b/interface.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
 	"sync"
@@ -18,6 +17,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/batch"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
 )
 
@@ -88,8 +89,12 @@ type Interface struct {
 
 	ctx     context.Context
 	writers []udp.Conn
-	readers []io.ReadWriteCloser
-	wg      sync.WaitGroup
+	readers []tio.Queue
+	// batchers is one per tun queue, wrapping readers[i].
+	// decryptToTun sends plaintext into the batch.RxBatcher;
+	// listenOut calls its Flush at the end of each UDP recvmmsg batch.
+	batchers []batch.RxBatcher
+	wg       sync.WaitGroup
 
 	// fatalErr holds the first unexpected reader error that caused shutdown.
 	// nil means "no fatal error" (yet)
@@ -187,7 +192,8 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 		routines:              c.routines,
 		version:               c.version,
 		writers:               make([]udp.Conn, c.routines),
-		readers:               make([]io.ReadWriteCloser, c.routines),
+		readers:               make([]tio.Queue, c.routines),
+		batchers:              make([]batch.RxBatcher, c.routines),
 		myVpnNetworks:         cs.myVpnNetworks,
 		myVpnNetworksTable:    cs.myVpnNetworksTable,
 		myVpnAddrs:            cs.myVpnAddrs,
@@ -245,15 +251,16 @@ func (f *Interface) activate() error {
 	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("routines", nil).Update(int64(f.routines))
 
 	// Prepare n tun queues
-	var reader io.ReadWriteCloser = f.inside
 	for i := 0; i < f.routines; i++ {
 		if i > 0 {
-			reader, err = f.inside.NewMultiQueueReader()
-			if err != nil {
+			if err = f.inside.NewMultiQueueReader(); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 		}
-		f.readers[i] = reader
+	}
+	f.readers = f.inside.Readers()
+	for i := range f.readers {
+		f.batchers[i] = batch.NewPassthrough(f.readers[i])
 	}
 
 	f.wg.Add(1) // for us to wait on Close() to return
@@ -311,14 +318,24 @@ func (f *Interface) listenOut(i int) {
 
 	ctCache := firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.ctx, f.l, f.conntrackCacheTimeout)
 	lhh := f.lightHouse.NewRequestHandler()
-	plaintext := make([]byte, udp.MTU)
 	h := &header.H{}
 	fwPacket := &firewall.Packet{}
 	nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
 
-	err := li.ListenOut(func(fromUdpAddr netip.AddrPort, payload []byte) {
+	coalescer := f.batchers[i]
+
+	listener := func(fromUdpAddr netip.AddrPort, payload []byte) {
+		plaintext := f.batchers[i].Reserve(len(payload))
 		f.readOutsidePackets(ViaSender{UdpAddr: fromUdpAddr}, plaintext[:0], payload, h, fwPacket, lhh, nb, i, ctCache.Get())
-	})
+	}
+
+	flusher := func() {
+		if err := coalescer.Flush(); err != nil {
+			f.l.Error("Failed to flush tun coalescer", "error", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	err := li.ListenOut(listener, flusher)
 
 	if err != nil && !f.closed.Load() {
 		f.l.Error("Error while reading inbound packet, closing", "error", err)
@@ -328,16 +345,16 @@ func (f *Interface) listenOut(i int) {
 	f.l.Debug("underlay reader is done", "reader", i)
 }
 
-func (f *Interface) listenIn(reader io.ReadWriteCloser, i int) {
-	packet := make([]byte, mtu)
-	out := make([]byte, mtu)
+func (f *Interface) listenIn(reader tio.Queue, i int) {
+	rejectBuf := make([]byte, mtu)
+	sb := batch.NewSendBatch(batch.SendBatchCap, udp.MTU+32)
 	fwPacket := &firewall.Packet{}
 	nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
 
 	conntrackCache := firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.ctx, f.l, f.conntrackCacheTimeout)
 
 	for {
-		n, err := reader.Read(packet)
+		pkts, err := reader.Read()
 		if err != nil {
 			if !f.closed.Load() {
 				f.l.Error("Error while reading outbound packet, closing", "error", err, "reader", i)
@@ -346,12 +363,29 @@ func (f *Interface) listenIn(reader io.ReadWriteCloser, i int) {
 			break
 		}
 
-		f.consumeInsidePacket(packet[:n], fwPacket, nb, out, i, conntrackCache.Get())
+		sb.Reset()
+		for _, pkt := range pkts {
+			if sb.Len() >= sb.Cap() {
+				f.flushBatch(sb, i)
+				sb.Reset()
+			}
+			f.consumeInsidePacket(pkt, fwPacket, nb, sb, rejectBuf, i, conntrackCache.Get())
+		}
+		if sb.Len() > 0 {
+			f.flushBatch(sb, i)
+		}
 	}
 
 	f.l.Debug("overlay reader is done", "reader", i)
 }
 
+func (f *Interface) flushBatch(sb batch.TxBatcher, q int) {
+	bufs, dsts := sb.Get()
+	if err := f.writers[q].WriteBatch(bufs, dsts); err != nil {
+		f.l.Error("Failed to write outgoing batch", "error", err, "writer", q)
+	}
+}
+
 func (f *Interface) RegisterConfigChangeCallbacks(c *config.C) {
 	c.RegisterReloadCallback(f.reloadFirewall)
 	c.RegisterReloadCallback(f.reloadSendRecvError)
diff --git a/outside.go b/outside.go
index 1e00a0a9..54104416 100644
--- a/outside.go
+++ b/outside.go
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ func (f *Interface) decryptToTun(hostinfo *HostInfo, messageCounter uint64, out
 	}
 
 	f.connectionManager.In(hostinfo)
-	_, err = f.readers[q].Write(out)
+	err = f.batchers[q].Commit(out)
 	if err != nil {
 		f.l.Error("Failed to write to tun", "error", err)
 	}
diff --git a/overlay/batch/batch.go b/overlay/batch/batch.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..925d6044
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/batch/batch.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package batch
+
+import "net/netip"
+
+type RxBatcher interface {
+	// Reserve creates a pkt to borrow
+	Reserve(sz int) []byte
+	// Commit borrows pkt. The caller must keep pkt valid until the next Flush
+	Commit(pkt []byte) error
+	// Flush emits every queued packet in arrival order. Returns the
+	// first error observed; keeps draining so one bad packet doesn't hold up
+	// the rest. After Flush returns, borrowed payload slices may be recycled.
+	Flush() error
+}
+
+type TxBatcher interface {
+	// Next returns a zero-length slice with slotCap capacity over the next unused
+	// slot's backing bytes. The caller writes into the returned slice and then
+	// calls Commit with the final length and destination. Next returns nil when
+	// the batch is full.
+	Next() []byte
+	// Commit records the slot just returned by Next as a packet of length n
+	// destined for dst.
+	Commit(n int, dst netip.AddrPort)
+	// Reset clears committed slots; backing storage is retained for reuse.
+	Reset()
+	// Len returns the number of committed packets.
+	Len() int
+	// Cap returns the maximum number of slots in the batch.
+	Cap() int
+	// Get returns the buffers needed to send the batch
+	Get() ([][]byte, []netip.AddrPort)
+}
diff --git a/overlay/batch/passthrough.go b/overlay/batch/passthrough.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d971c303
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/batch/passthrough.go
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"io"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
+)
+
+// Passthrough is a RxBatcher that doesn't batch anything, it just accumulates and then sends packets.
+type Passthrough struct {
+	out     io.Writer
+	slots   [][]byte
+	backing []byte
+	cursor  int
+}
+
+func NewPassthrough(w io.Writer) *Passthrough {
+	const baseNumSlots = 128
+	return &Passthrough{
+		out:     w,
+		slots:   make([][]byte, 0, baseNumSlots),
+		backing: make([]byte, 0, baseNumSlots*udp.MTU),
+	}
+}
+
+func (p *Passthrough) Reserve(sz int) []byte {
+	if len(p.backing)+sz > cap(p.backing) {
+		// Grow: allocate a fresh backing. Already-committed slices still
+		// reference the old array and remain valid until Flush drops them.
+		newCap := max(cap(p.backing)*2, sz)
+		p.backing = make([]byte, 0, newCap)
+	}
+	start := len(p.backing)
+	p.backing = p.backing[:start+sz]
+	return p.backing[start : start+sz : start+sz] //return zero length, sz-cap slice
+}
+
+func (p *Passthrough) Commit(pkt []byte) error {
+	p.slots = append(p.slots, pkt)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (p *Passthrough) Flush() error {
+	var firstErr error
+	for _, s := range p.slots {
+		_, err := p.out.Write(s)
+		if err != nil && firstErr == nil {
+			firstErr = err
+		}
+	}
+	for i := range p.slots {
+		p.slots[i] = nil
+	}
+	p.slots = p.slots[:0]
+	p.backing = p.backing[:0]
+	return firstErr
+}
diff --git a/overlay/batch/tx_batch.go b/overlay/batch/tx_batch.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cac441d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/batch/tx_batch.go
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package batch
+
+import "net/netip"
+
+const SendBatchCap = 128
+
+// SendBatch accumulates encrypted UDP packets for potential TX offloading.
+// One SendBatch is owned by each listenIn goroutine; no locking is needed.
+// The backing storage holds up to batchCap packets of slotCap bytes each;
+// bufs and dsts are parallel slices of committed slots.
+type SendBatch struct {
+	bufs     [][]byte
+	dsts     []netip.AddrPort
+	backing  []byte
+	slotCap  int
+	batchCap int
+	nextSlot int
+}
+
+func NewSendBatch(batchCap, slotCap int) *SendBatch {
+	return &SendBatch{
+		bufs:     make([][]byte, 0, batchCap),
+		dsts:     make([]netip.AddrPort, 0, batchCap),
+		backing:  make([]byte, batchCap*slotCap),
+		slotCap:  slotCap,
+		batchCap: batchCap,
+	}
+}
+
+func (b *SendBatch) Next() []byte {
+	if b.nextSlot >= b.batchCap {
+		return nil
+	}
+	start := b.nextSlot * b.slotCap
+	return b.backing[start : start : start+b.slotCap] //set len to 0 but cap to slotCap
+}
+
+func (b *SendBatch) Commit(n int, dst netip.AddrPort) {
+	start := b.nextSlot * b.slotCap
+	b.bufs = append(b.bufs, b.backing[start:start+n])
+	b.dsts = append(b.dsts, dst)
+	b.nextSlot++
+}
+
+func (b *SendBatch) Reset() {
+	b.bufs = b.bufs[:0]
+	b.dsts = b.dsts[:0]
+	b.nextSlot = 0
+}
+
+func (b *SendBatch) Len() int {
+	return len(b.bufs)
+}
+
+func (b *SendBatch) Cap() int {
+	return b.batchCap
+}
+
+func (b *SendBatch) Get() ([][]byte, []netip.AddrPort) {
+	return b.bufs, b.dsts
+}
diff --git a/overlay/batch/tx_batch_test.go b/overlay/batch/tx_batch_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..32412492
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/batch/tx_batch_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"net/netip"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestSendBatchBookkeeping(t *testing.T) {
+	b := NewSendBatch(4, 32)
+	if b.Len() != 0 || b.Cap() != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh batch: len=%d cap=%d", b.Len(), b.Cap())
+	}
+
+	ap := netip.MustParseAddrPort("10.0.0.1:4242")
+	for i := 0; i < 4; i++ {
+		slot := b.Next()
+		if slot == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("slot %d: Next returned nil before cap", i)
+		}
+		if cap(slot) != 32 || len(slot) != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("slot %d: got len=%d cap=%d want len=0 cap=32", i, len(slot), cap(slot))
+		}
+		// Write a marker byte.
+		slot = append(slot, byte(i), byte(i+1), byte(i+2))
+		b.Commit(len(slot), ap)
+	}
+	if b.Next() != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Next should return nil when full")
+	}
+	if b.Len() != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("Len=%d want 4", b.Len())
+	}
+	for i, buf := range b.bufs {
+		if len(buf) != 3 || buf[0] != byte(i) {
+			t.Errorf("buf %d: %x", i, buf)
+		}
+		if b.dsts[i] != ap {
+			t.Errorf("dst %d: got %v want %v", i, b.dsts[i], ap)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Reset returns empty and Next works again.
+	b.Reset()
+	if b.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("after Reset Len=%d want 0", b.Len())
+	}
+	slot := b.Next()
+	if slot == nil || cap(slot) != 32 {
+		t.Fatalf("after Reset Next nil or wrong cap: %v cap=%d", slot == nil, cap(slot))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSendBatchSlotsDoNotOverlap(t *testing.T) {
+	b := NewSendBatch(3, 8)
+	ap := netip.MustParseAddrPort("10.0.0.1:80")
+
+	// Fill three slots, each with its own sentinel byte.
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		s := b.Next()
+		s = append(s, byte(0xA0+i), byte(0xB0+i))
+		b.Commit(len(s), ap)
+	}
+
+	for i, buf := range b.bufs {
+		if buf[0] != byte(0xA0+i) || buf[1] != byte(0xB0+i) {
+			t.Errorf("slot %d corrupted: %x", i, buf)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/overlay/device.go b/overlay/device.go
index b6077aba..f8181421 100644
--- a/overlay/device.go
+++ b/overlay/device.go
@@ -4,15 +4,21 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/netip"
 
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
+// defaultBatchBufSize is the per-Queue scratch size for Read on backends
+// that don't do TSO segmentation. 65535 covers any single IP packet.
+const defaultBatchBufSize = 65535
+
 type Device interface {
-	io.ReadWriteCloser
+	io.Closer
 	Activate() error
 	Networks() []netip.Prefix
 	Name() string
 	RoutesFor(netip.Addr) routing.Gateways
-	SupportsMultiqueue() bool
-	NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error)
+	SupportsMultiqueue() bool //todo remove?
+	NewMultiQueueReader() error
+	Readers() []tio.Queue
 }
diff --git a/overlay/overlaytest/noop.go b/overlay/overlaytest/noop.go
index 956da7dd..99ef4d15 100644
--- a/overlay/overlaytest/noop.go
+++ b/overlay/overlaytest/noop.go
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ package overlaytest
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"io"
 	"net/netip"
 
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
@@ -31,20 +31,28 @@ func (NoopTun) Name() string {
 	return "noop"
 }
 
-func (NoopTun) Read([]byte) (int, error) {
-	return 0, nil
+func (NoopTun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	return nil, nil
 }
 
 func (NoopTun) Write([]byte) (int, error) {
 	return 0, nil
 }
 
+func (NoopTun) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return 0, nil
+}
+
 func (NoopTun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (NoopTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, errors.New("unsupported")
+func (NoopTun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return errors.New("unsupported")
+}
+
+func (NoopTun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{NoopTun{}}
 }
 
 func (NoopTun) Close() error {
diff --git a/overlay/tio/container_poll_linux.go b/overlay/tio/container_poll_linux.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fa6367e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/tio/container_poll_linux.go
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+package tio
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+)
+
+type pollContainer struct {
+	pq []*Poll
+	// pqi is exactly the same as pq, but stored as the interface type
+	pqi        []Queue
+	shutdownFd int
+}
+
+func NewPollContainer() (Container, error) {
+	shutdownFd, err := unix.Eventfd(0, unix.EFD_NONBLOCK|unix.EFD_CLOEXEC)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create eventfd: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	out := &pollContainer{
+		pq:         []*Poll{},
+		pqi:        []Queue{},
+		shutdownFd: shutdownFd,
+	}
+
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (c *pollContainer) Queues() []Queue {
+	return c.pqi
+}
+
+func (c *pollContainer) Add(fd int) error {
+	x, err := newPoll(fd, c.shutdownFd)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	c.pq = append(c.pq, x)
+	c.pqi = append(c.pqi, x)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *pollContainer) wakeForShutdown() error {
+	var buf [8]byte
+	binary.NativeEndian.PutUint64(buf[:], 1)
+	_, err := unix.Write(int(c.shutdownFd), buf[:])
+	return err
+}
+
+func (c *pollContainer) Close() error {
+	errs := []error{}
+
+	if err := c.wakeForShutdown(); err != nil {
+		errs = append(errs, err)
+	}
+
+	for _, x := range c.pq {
+		if err := x.Close(); err != nil {
+			errs = append(errs, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return errors.Join(errs...)
+}
diff --git a/overlay/tio/tio.go b/overlay/tio/tio.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..792083ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/tio/tio.go
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+package tio
+
+import "io"
+
+// defaultBatchBufSize is the per-Queue scratch size for Read on backends
+// that don't do TSO segmentation. 65535 covers any single IP packet.
+const defaultBatchBufSize = 65535
+
+// Container holds one or many Queue objects and helps close them in an orderly way
+type Container interface {
+	io.Closer
+	Queues() []Queue
+
+	// Add takes a tun fd, adds it to the container, and prepares it for use as a Queue
+	Add(fd int) error
+}
+
+// Queue is a readable/writable Poll queue. One Queue is driven by a single
+// read goroutine plus concurrent writers (see Write / WriteReject below).
+type Queue interface {
+	io.Closer
+
+	// Read returns one or more packets. The returned slices are borrowed
+	// from the Queue's internal buffer and are only valid until the next
+	// Read or Close on this Queue - callers must encrypt or copy each
+	// slice before the next call. Not safe for concurrent Reads; exactly
+	// one goroutine per Queue reads.
+	Read() ([][]byte, error)
+
+	// Write emits a single packet on the plaintext (outside→inside)
+	// delivery path. May run concurrently with WriteFromSelf on the same
+	// Queue, but not with itself.
+	Write(p []byte) (int, error)
+
+	// WriteFromSelf writes a single packet that originated from the inside
+	// path (reject replies or self-forward) using scratch state distinct
+	// from Write, so it can run concurrently with Write on the same Queue
+	// without a data race. On backends without a shared-scratch Write, a
+	// trivial delegation to Write is acceptable.
+	WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error)
+}
+
+// GSOWriter is implemented by Queues that can emit a TCP TSO superpacket
+// assembled from a header prefix plus one or more borrowed payload
+// fragments, in a single vectored write (writev with a leading
+// virtio_net_hdr). This lets the coalescer avoid copying payload bytes
+// between the caller's decrypt buffer and the TUN. Backends without GSO
+// support return false from GSOSupported and coalescing is skipped.
+//
+// hdr contains the IPv4/IPv6 + TCP header prefix (mutable - callers will
+// have filled in total length and pseudo-header partial). pays are
+// non-overlapping payload fragments whose concatenation is the full
+// superpacket payload; they are read-only from the writer's perspective
+// and must remain valid until the call returns. gsoSize is the MSS:
+// every segment except possibly the last is exactly that many bytes.
+// csumStart is the byte offset where the TCP header begins within hdr.
+//
+// # TODO fold into Queue
+//
+// hdr's TCP checksum field must already hold the pseudo-header partial
+// sum (single-fold, not inverted), per virtio NEEDS_CSUM semantics.
+type GSOWriter interface {
+	WriteGSO(hdr []byte, pays [][]byte, gsoSize uint16, isV6 bool, csumStart uint16) error
+	GSOSupported() bool
+}
diff --git a/overlay/tio/tio_poll_linux.go b/overlay/tio/tio_poll_linux.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17fb73de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/tio/tio_poll_linux.go
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+package tio
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"sync/atomic"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+)
+
+// Maximum size we accept for a single read from a TUN with IFF_VNET_HDR. A
+// TSO superpacket can be up to 64KiB of payload plus a single L2/L3/L4 header
+// prefix plus the virtio header.
+const tunReadBufSize = 65535
+
+type Poll struct {
+	fd int
+
+	readPoll  [2]unix.PollFd
+	writePoll [2]unix.PollFd
+	closed    atomic.Bool
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func newPoll(fd int, shutdownFd int) (*Poll, error) {
+	if err := unix.SetNonblock(fd, true); err != nil {
+		_ = unix.Close(fd)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set Poll device as nonblocking: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	out := &Poll{
+		fd:      fd,
+		readBuf: make([]byte, tunReadBufSize),
+		readPoll: [2]unix.PollFd{
+			{Fd: int32(fd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
+			{Fd: int32(shutdownFd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
+		},
+		writePoll: [2]unix.PollFd{
+			{Fd: int32(fd), Events: unix.POLLOUT},
+			{Fd: int32(shutdownFd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
+		},
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// blockOnRead waits until the Poll fd is readable or shutdown has been signaled.
+// Returns os.ErrClosed if Close was called.
+func (t *Poll) blockOnRead() error {
+	const problemFlags = unix.POLLHUP | unix.POLLNVAL | unix.POLLERR
+	var err error
+	for {
+		_, err = unix.Poll(t.readPoll[:], -1)
+		if err != unix.EINTR {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	tunEvents := t.readPoll[0].Revents
+	shutdownEvents := t.readPoll[1].Revents
+	t.readPoll[0].Revents = 0
+	t.readPoll[1].Revents = 0
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if shutdownEvents&(unix.POLLIN|problemFlags) != 0 {
+		return os.ErrClosed
+	}
+	if tunEvents&problemFlags != 0 {
+		return os.ErrClosed
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (t *Poll) blockOnWrite() error {
+	const problemFlags = unix.POLLHUP | unix.POLLNVAL | unix.POLLERR
+	var err error
+	for {
+		_, err = unix.Poll(t.writePoll[:], -1)
+		if err != unix.EINTR {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	tunEvents := t.writePoll[0].Revents
+	shutdownEvents := t.writePoll[1].Revents
+	t.writePoll[0].Revents = 0
+	t.writePoll[1].Revents = 0
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if shutdownEvents&(unix.POLLIN|problemFlags) != 0 {
+		return os.ErrClosed
+	}
+	if tunEvents&problemFlags != 0 {
+		return os.ErrClosed
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (t *Poll) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	n, err := t.readOne(t.readBuf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = t.readBuf[:n]
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
+}
+
+func (t *Poll) readOne(to []byte) (int, error) {
+	for {
+		n, errno := unix.Read(t.fd, to)
+		if errno == nil {
+			return n, nil
+		}
+		switch errno {
+		case unix.EAGAIN:
+			if err := t.blockOnRead(); err != nil {
+				return 0, err
+			}
+		case unix.EINTR:
+			// retry
+		case unix.EBADF:
+			return 0, os.ErrClosed
+		default:
+			return 0, errno
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Write is only valid for single threaded use
+func (t *Poll) Write(from []byte) (int, error) {
+	for {
+		n, errno := unix.Write(t.fd, from)
+		if errno == nil {
+			return n, nil
+		}
+		switch errno {
+		case unix.EAGAIN:
+			if err := t.blockOnWrite(); err != nil {
+				return 0, err
+			}
+		case unix.EINTR:
+			// retry
+		case unix.EBADF:
+			return 0, os.ErrClosed
+		default:
+			return 0, errno
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *Poll) Close() error {
+	if t.closed.Swap(true) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	//shutdownFd is owned by the container, so we should not close it
+	var err error
+	if t.fd >= 0 {
+		err = unix.Close(t.fd)
+		t.fd = -1
+	}
+
+	return err
+}
+
+func (t *Poll) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.Write(p)
+}
diff --git a/overlay/tio/tun_file_linux_test.go b/overlay/tio/tun_file_linux_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8d66fb05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overlay/tio/tun_file_linux_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+//go:build linux && !android && !e2e_testing
+// +build linux,!android,!e2e_testing
+
+package tio
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+)
+
+// newReadPipe returns a read fd. The matching write fd is registered for cleanup.
+// The caller takes ownership of the read fd (pass it to newOffload / newFriend).
+func newReadPipe(t *testing.T) int {
+	t.Helper()
+	var fds [2]int
+	if err := unix.Pipe2(fds[:], unix.O_CLOEXEC); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("pipe2: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = unix.Close(fds[1]) })
+	return fds[0]
+}
+
+func TestPoll_WakeForShutdown_WakesFriends(t *testing.T) {
+	pipe1 := newReadPipe(t)
+	pipe2 := newReadPipe(t)
+	parent, err := NewPollContainer()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, parent.Add(pipe1))
+	require.NoError(t, parent.Add(pipe2))
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		_ = unix.Close(pipe1)
+		_ = unix.Close(pipe2)
+	})
+
+	readers := parent.Queues()
+	errs := make([]error, len(readers))
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for i, r := range readers {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func(i int, r Queue) {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			_, errs[i] = r.Read()
+		}(i, r)
+	}
+
+	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	if err := parent.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() { wg.Wait(); close(done) }()
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("readers did not wake")
+	}
+
+	for i, err := range errs {
+		if !errors.Is(err, os.ErrClosed) {
+			t.Errorf("reader %d: expected os.ErrClosed, got %v", i, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPoll_Close_Idempotent(t *testing.T) {
+	tf, err := newPoll(newReadPipe(t), 1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	if err := tf.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("first Close: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := tf.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("second Close should be a no-op, got %v", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/overlay/tun_android.go b/overlay/tun_android.go
index 9cbb64be..b68dfcd5 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_android.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_android.go
@@ -13,17 +13,42 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 )
 
 type tun struct {
-	io.ReadWriteCloser
+	rwc         io.ReadWriteCloser
 	fd          int
 	vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix
 	Routes      atomic.Pointer[[]Route]
 	routeTree   atomic.Pointer[bart.Table[routing.Gateways]]
 	l           *slog.Logger
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	n, err := t.rwc.Read(t.readBuf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = t.readBuf[:n]
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.rwc.Write(p)
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.rwc.Write(p)
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Close() error {
+	return t.rwc.Close()
 }
 
 func newTunFromFd(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, deviceFd int, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix) (*tun, error) {
@@ -32,10 +57,11 @@ func newTunFromFd(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, deviceFd int, vpnNetworks []netip
 	file := os.NewFile(uintptr(deviceFd), "/dev/net/tun")
 
 	t := &tun{
-		ReadWriteCloser: file,
-		fd:              deviceFd,
-		vpnNetworks:     vpnNetworks,
-		l:               l,
+		rwc:         file,
+		fd:          deviceFd,
+		vpnNetworks: vpnNetworks,
+		l:           l,
+		readBuf:     make([]byte, defaultBatchBufSize),
 	}
 
 	err := t.reload(c, true)
@@ -62,7 +88,7 @@ func (t *tun) RoutesFor(ip netip.Addr) routing.Gateways {
 	return r
 }
 
-func (t tun) Activate() error {
+func (t *tun) Activate() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -99,6 +125,10 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for android")
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for android")
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{t}
 }
diff --git a/overlay/tun_darwin.go b/overlay/tun_darwin.go
index 524ef0cd..9a4b70e6 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_darwin.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_darwin.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 	netroute "golang.org/x/net/route"
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type tun struct {
-	io.ReadWriteCloser
+	rwc         io.ReadWriteCloser
 	Device      string
 	vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix
 	DefaultMTU  int
@@ -34,6 +35,9 @@ type tun struct {
 
 	// cache out buffer since we need to prepend 4 bytes for tun metadata
 	out []byte
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
 }
 
 type ifReq struct {
@@ -124,11 +128,12 @@ func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (*t
 	}
 
 	t := &tun{
-		ReadWriteCloser: os.NewFile(uintptr(fd), ""),
-		Device:          name,
-		vpnNetworks:     vpnNetworks,
-		DefaultMTU:      c.GetInt("tun.mtu", DefaultMTU),
-		l:               l,
+		rwc:         os.NewFile(uintptr(fd), ""),
+		Device:      name,
+		vpnNetworks: vpnNetworks,
+		DefaultMTU:  c.GetInt("tun.mtu", DefaultMTU),
+		l:           l,
+		readBuf:     make([]byte, defaultBatchBufSize),
 	}
 
 	err = t.reload(c, true)
@@ -158,8 +163,8 @@ func newTunFromFd(_ *config.C, _ *slog.Logger, _ int, _ []netip.Prefix) (*tun, e
 }
 
 func (t *tun) Close() error {
-	if t.ReadWriteCloser != nil {
-		return t.ReadWriteCloser.Close()
+	if t.rwc != nil {
+		return t.rwc.Close()
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -502,15 +507,28 @@ func delRoute(prefix netip.Prefix, gateway netroute.Addr) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t *tun) Read(to []byte) (int, error) {
+func (t *tun) readOne(to []byte) (int, error) {
 	buf := make([]byte, len(to)+4)
 
-	n, err := t.ReadWriteCloser.Read(buf)
+	n, err := t.rwc.Read(buf)
 
 	copy(to, buf[4:])
 	return n - 4, err
 }
 
+func (t *tun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	n, err := t.readOne(t.readBuf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = t.readBuf[:n]
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.Write(p)
+}
+
 // Write is only valid for single threaded use
 func (t *tun) Write(from []byte) (int, error) {
 	buf := t.out
@@ -536,7 +554,7 @@ func (t *tun) Write(from []byte) (int, error) {
 
 	copy(buf[4:], from)
 
-	n, err := t.ReadWriteCloser.Write(buf)
+	n, err := t.rwc.Write(buf)
 	return n - 4, err
 }
 
@@ -552,6 +570,10 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for darwin")
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for darwin")
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{t}
 }
diff --git a/overlay/tun_disabled.go b/overlay/tun_disabled.go
index f47880dd..5daa4797 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_disabled.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_disabled.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/rcrowley/go-metrics"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/iputil"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
@@ -18,9 +19,27 @@ type disabledTun struct {
 	vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix
 
 	// Track these metrics since we don't have the tun device to do it for us
-	tx metrics.Counter
-	rx metrics.Counter
-	l  *slog.Logger
+	tx         metrics.Counter
+	rx         metrics.Counter
+	l          *slog.Logger
+	numReaders int
+
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func (t *disabledTun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	r, ok := <-t.read
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, io.EOF
+	}
+
+	t.tx.Inc(1)
+	if t.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+		t.l.Debug("Write payload", "raw", prettyPacket(r))
+	}
+
+	t.batchRet[0] = r
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
 }
 
 func newDisabledTun(vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, queueLen int, metricsEnabled bool, l *slog.Logger) *disabledTun {
@@ -28,6 +47,7 @@ func newDisabledTun(vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, queueLen int, metricsEnabled boo
 		vpnNetworks: vpnNetworks,
 		read:        make(chan []byte, queueLen),
 		l:           l,
+		numReaders:  1,
 	}
 
 	if metricsEnabled {
@@ -57,24 +77,6 @@ func (*disabledTun) Name() string {
 	return "disabled"
 }
 
-func (t *disabledTun) Read(b []byte) (int, error) {
-	r, ok := <-t.read
-	if !ok {
-		return 0, io.EOF
-	}
-
-	if len(r) > len(b) {
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("packet larger than mtu: %d > %d bytes", len(r), len(b))
-	}
-
-	t.tx.Inc(1)
-	if t.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
-		t.l.Debug("Write payload", "raw", prettyPacket(r))
-	}
-
-	return copy(b, r), nil
-}
-
 func (t *disabledTun) handleICMPEchoRequest(b []byte) bool {
 	out := make([]byte, len(b))
 	out = iputil.CreateICMPEchoResponse(b, out)
@@ -106,12 +108,25 @@ func (t *disabledTun) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
 	return len(b), nil
 }
 
+func (t *disabledTun) WriteFromSelf(b []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.Write(b)
+}
+
 func (t *disabledTun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func (t *disabledTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return t, nil
+func (t *disabledTun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	t.numReaders++
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (t *disabledTun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	out := make([]tio.Queue, t.numReaders)
+	for i := range t.numReaders {
+		out[i] = t
+	}
+	return out
 }
 
 func (t *disabledTun) Close() error {
diff --git a/overlay/tun_file_linux_test.go b/overlay/tun_file_linux_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 5ab87e05..00000000
--- a/overlay/tun_file_linux_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,120 +0,0 @@
-//go:build linux && !android && !e2e_testing
-// +build linux,!android,!e2e_testing
-
-package overlay
-
-import (
-	"errors"
-	"os"
-	"sync"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
-)
-
-// newReadPipe returns a read fd. The matching write fd is registered for cleanup.
-// The caller takes ownership of the read fd (pass it to newTunFd / newFriend).
-func newReadPipe(t *testing.T) int {
-	t.Helper()
-	var fds [2]int
-	if err := unix.Pipe2(fds[:], unix.O_CLOEXEC); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("pipe2: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = unix.Close(fds[1]) })
-	return fds[0]
-}
-
-func TestTunFile_WakeForShutdown_UnblocksRead(t *testing.T) {
-	tf, err := newTunFd(newReadPipe(t))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("newTunFd: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = tf.Close() })
-
-	done := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() {
-		_, err := tf.Read(make([]byte, 64))
-		done <- err
-	}()
-
-	// Verify Read is actually blocked in poll.
-	select {
-	case err := <-done:
-		t.Fatalf("Read returned before shutdown signal: %v", err)
-	case <-time.After(50 * time.Millisecond):
-	}
-
-	if err := tf.wakeForShutdown(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("wakeForShutdown: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	select {
-	case err := <-done:
-		if !errors.Is(err, os.ErrClosed) {
-			t.Fatalf("expected os.ErrClosed, got %v", err)
-		}
-	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
-		t.Fatal("Read did not wake on shutdown")
-	}
-}
-
-func TestTunFile_WakeForShutdown_WakesFriends(t *testing.T) {
-	parent, err := newTunFd(newReadPipe(t))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("newTunFd: %v", err)
-	}
-	friend, err := parent.newFriend(newReadPipe(t))
-	if err != nil {
-		_ = parent.Close()
-		t.Fatalf("newFriend: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() {
-		_ = friend.Close()
-		_ = parent.Close()
-	})
-
-	readers := []*tunFile{parent, friend}
-	errs := make([]error, len(readers))
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
-	for i, r := range readers {
-		wg.Add(1)
-		go func(i int, r *tunFile) {
-			defer wg.Done()
-			_, errs[i] = r.Read(make([]byte, 64))
-		}(i, r)
-	}
-
-	time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
-
-	if err := parent.wakeForShutdown(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("wakeForShutdown: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	done := make(chan struct{})
-	go func() { wg.Wait(); close(done) }()
-	select {
-	case <-done:
-	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
-		t.Fatal("readers did not wake")
-	}
-
-	for i, err := range errs {
-		if !errors.Is(err, os.ErrClosed) {
-			t.Errorf("reader %d: expected os.ErrClosed, got %v", i, err)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func TestTunFile_Close_Idempotent(t *testing.T) {
-	tf, err := newTunFd(newReadPipe(t))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("newTunFd: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := tf.Close(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("first Close: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := tf.Close(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("second Close should be a no-op, got %v", err)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/overlay/tun_freebsd.go b/overlay/tun_freebsd.go
index 3d995553..980c3efb 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_freebsd.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_freebsd.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"io/fs"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
-
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 	netroute "golang.org/x/net/route"
@@ -103,6 +102,9 @@ type tun struct {
 	readPoll  [2]unix.PollFd
 	writePoll [2]unix.PollFd
 	closed    atomic.Bool
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
 }
 
 // blockOnRead waits until the tun fd is readable or shutdown has been signaled.
@@ -157,7 +159,20 @@ func (t *tun) blockOnWrite() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t *tun) Read(to []byte) (int, error) {
+func (t *tun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	n, err := t.readOne(t.readBuf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = t.readBuf[:n]
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.Write(p)
+}
+
+func (t *tun) readOne(to []byte) (int, error) {
 	// first 4 bytes is protocol family, in network byte order
 	var head [4]byte
 	iovecs := [2]syscall.Iovec{
@@ -375,6 +390,7 @@ func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (*t
 		MTU:         c.GetInt("tun.mtu", DefaultMTU),
 		l:           l,
 		fd:          fd,
+		readBuf:     make([]byte, defaultBatchBufSize),
 		shutdownR:   shutdownR,
 		shutdownW:   shutdownW,
 		readPoll: [2]unix.PollFd{
@@ -565,8 +581,8 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for freebsd")
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for freebsd")
 }
 
 func (t *tun) addRoutes(logErrors bool) error {
@@ -593,6 +609,10 @@ func (t *tun) addRoutes(logErrors bool) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (t *tun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{t}
+}
+
 func (t *tun) removeRoutes(routes []Route) error {
 	for _, r := range routes {
 		if !r.Install {
diff --git a/overlay/tun_ios.go b/overlay/tun_ios.go
index 6bfcbdfb..65dc0edc 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_ios.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_ios.go
@@ -16,16 +16,41 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 )
 
 type tun struct {
-	io.ReadWriteCloser
+	rwc         io.ReadWriteCloser
 	vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix
 	Routes      atomic.Pointer[[]Route]
 	routeTree   atomic.Pointer[bart.Table[routing.Gateways]]
 	l           *slog.Logger
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	n, err := t.rwc.Read(t.readBuf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = t.readBuf[:n]
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.rwc.Write(p)
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.rwc.Write(p)
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Close() error {
+	return t.rwc.Close()
 }
 
 func newTun(_ *config.C, _ *slog.Logger, _ []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (*tun, error) {
@@ -35,9 +60,10 @@ func newTun(_ *config.C, _ *slog.Logger, _ []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (*tun, error)
 func newTunFromFd(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, deviceFd int, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix) (*tun, error) {
 	file := os.NewFile(uintptr(deviceFd), "/dev/tun")
 	t := &tun{
-		vpnNetworks:     vpnNetworks,
-		ReadWriteCloser: &tunReadCloser{f: file},
-		l:               l,
+		vpnNetworks: vpnNetworks,
+		rwc:         &tunReadCloser{f: file},
+		l:           l,
+		readBuf:     make([]byte, defaultBatchBufSize),
 	}
 
 	err := t.reload(c, true)
@@ -155,6 +181,10 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for ios")
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for ios")
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{t}
 }
diff --git a/overlay/tun_linux.go b/overlay/tun_linux.go
index c6cfb686..19e3ceb0 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_linux.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_linux.go
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
 package overlay
 
 import (
-	"encoding/binary"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net"
 	"net/netip"
@@ -19,180 +17,15 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 	"github.com/vishvananda/netlink"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
 )
 
-// tunFile wraps a TUN file descriptor with poll-based reads. The FD provided will be changed to non-blocking.
-// A shared eventfd allows Close to wake all readers blocked in poll.
-type tunFile struct {
-	fd         int
-	shutdownFd int
-	lastOne    bool
-	readPoll   [2]unix.PollFd
-	writePoll  [2]unix.PollFd
-	closed     bool
-}
-
-// newFriend makes a tunFile for a MultiQueueReader that copies the shutdown eventfd from the parent tun
-func (r *tunFile) newFriend(fd int) (*tunFile, error) {
-	if err := unix.SetNonblock(fd, true); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set tun fd non-blocking: %w", err)
-	}
-	return &tunFile{
-		fd:         fd,
-		shutdownFd: r.shutdownFd,
-		readPoll: [2]unix.PollFd{
-			{Fd: int32(fd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
-			{Fd: int32(r.shutdownFd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
-		},
-		writePoll: [2]unix.PollFd{
-			{Fd: int32(fd), Events: unix.POLLOUT},
-			{Fd: int32(r.shutdownFd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
-		},
-	}, nil
-}
-
-func newTunFd(fd int) (*tunFile, error) {
-	if err := unix.SetNonblock(fd, true); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set tun fd non-blocking: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	shutdownFd, err := unix.Eventfd(0, unix.EFD_NONBLOCK|unix.EFD_CLOEXEC)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create eventfd: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	out := &tunFile{
-		fd:         fd,
-		shutdownFd: shutdownFd,
-		lastOne:    true,
-		readPoll: [2]unix.PollFd{
-			{Fd: int32(fd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
-			{Fd: int32(shutdownFd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
-		},
-		writePoll: [2]unix.PollFd{
-			{Fd: int32(fd), Events: unix.POLLOUT},
-			{Fd: int32(shutdownFd), Events: unix.POLLIN},
-		},
-	}
-
-	return out, nil
-}
-
-func (r *tunFile) blockOnRead() error {
-	const problemFlags = unix.POLLHUP | unix.POLLNVAL | unix.POLLERR
-	var err error
-	for {
-		_, err = unix.Poll(r.readPoll[:], -1)
-		if err != unix.EINTR {
-			break
-		}
-	}
-	//always reset these!
-	tunEvents := r.readPoll[0].Revents
-	shutdownEvents := r.readPoll[1].Revents
-	r.readPoll[0].Revents = 0
-	r.readPoll[1].Revents = 0
-	//do the err check before trusting the potentially bogus bits we just got
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if shutdownEvents&(unix.POLLIN|problemFlags) != 0 {
-		return os.ErrClosed
-	} else if tunEvents&problemFlags != 0 {
-		return os.ErrClosed
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (r *tunFile) blockOnWrite() error {
-	const problemFlags = unix.POLLHUP | unix.POLLNVAL | unix.POLLERR
-	var err error
-	for {
-		_, err = unix.Poll(r.writePoll[:], -1)
-		if err != unix.EINTR {
-			break
-		}
-	}
-	//always reset these!
-	tunEvents := r.writePoll[0].Revents
-	shutdownEvents := r.writePoll[1].Revents
-	r.writePoll[0].Revents = 0
-	r.writePoll[1].Revents = 0
-	//do the err check before trusting the potentially bogus bits we just got
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if shutdownEvents&(unix.POLLIN|problemFlags) != 0 {
-		return os.ErrClosed
-	} else if tunEvents&problemFlags != 0 {
-		return os.ErrClosed
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (r *tunFile) Read(buf []byte) (int, error) {
-	for {
-		if n, err := unix.Read(r.fd, buf); err == nil {
-			return n, nil
-		} else if err == unix.EAGAIN {
-			if err = r.blockOnRead(); err != nil {
-				return 0, err
-			}
-			continue
-		} else if err == unix.EINTR {
-			continue
-		} else if err == unix.EBADF {
-			return 0, os.ErrClosed
-		} else {
-			return 0, err
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func (r *tunFile) Write(buf []byte) (int, error) {
-	for {
-		if n, err := unix.Write(r.fd, buf); err == nil {
-			return n, nil
-		} else if err == unix.EAGAIN {
-			if err = r.blockOnWrite(); err != nil {
-				return 0, err
-			}
-			continue
-		} else if err == unix.EINTR {
-			continue
-		} else if err == unix.EBADF {
-			return 0, os.ErrClosed
-		} else {
-			return 0, err
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func (r *tunFile) wakeForShutdown() error {
-	var buf [8]byte
-	binary.NativeEndian.PutUint64(buf[:], 1)
-	_, err := unix.Write(int(r.readPoll[1].Fd), buf[:])
-	return err
-}
-
-func (r *tunFile) Close() error {
-	if r.closed { // avoid closing more than once. Technically a fd could get re-used, which would be a problem
-		return nil
-	}
-	r.closed = true
-	if r.lastOne {
-		_ = unix.Close(r.shutdownFd)
-	}
-	return unix.Close(r.fd)
-}
-
 type tun struct {
-	*tunFile
-	readers     []*tunFile
+	readers     tio.Container
 	closeLock   sync.Mutex
 	Device      string
 	vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix
@@ -249,44 +82,57 @@ func newTunFromFd(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, deviceFd int, vpnNetworks []netip
 	return t, nil
 }
 
-func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, multiqueue bool) (*tun, error) {
+// openTunDev opens /dev/net/tun, creating the device node first if it's
+// missing (docker containers occasionally omit it).
+func openTunDev() (int, error) {
 	fd, err := unix.Open("/dev/net/tun", os.O_RDWR, 0)
-	if err != nil {
-		// If /dev/net/tun doesn't exist, try to create it (will happen in docker)
-		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-			err = os.MkdirAll("/dev/net", 0755)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("/dev/net/tun doesn't exist, failed to mkdir -p /dev/net: %w", err)
-			}
-			err = unix.Mknod("/dev/net/tun", unix.S_IFCHR|0600, int(unix.Mkdev(10, 200)))
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create /dev/net/tun: %w", err)
-			}
-
-			fd, err = unix.Open("/dev/net/tun", os.O_RDWR, 0)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("created /dev/net/tun, but still failed: %w", err)
-			}
-		} else {
-			return nil, err
-		}
+	if err == nil {
+		return fd, nil
 	}
+	if !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return -1, err
+	}
+	if err = os.MkdirAll("/dev/net", 0755); err != nil {
+		return -1, fmt.Errorf("/dev/net/tun doesn't exist, failed to mkdir -p /dev/net: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err = unix.Mknod("/dev/net/tun", unix.S_IFCHR|0600, int(unix.Mkdev(10, 200))); err != nil {
+		return -1, fmt.Errorf("failed to create /dev/net/tun: %w", err)
+	}
+	fd, err = unix.Open("/dev/net/tun", os.O_RDWR, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return -1, fmt.Errorf("created /dev/net/tun, but still failed: %w", err)
+	}
+	return fd, nil
+}
 
+// tunSetIff runs TUNSETIFF with the given flags and returns the kernel-chosen
+// device name on success.
+func tunSetIff(fd int, name string, flags uint16) (string, error) {
 	var req ifReq
-	req.Flags = uint16(unix.IFF_TUN | unix.IFF_NO_PI)
+	req.Flags = flags
+	copy(req.Name[:], name)
+	if err := ioctl(uintptr(fd), uintptr(unix.TUNSETIFF), uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&req))); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return strings.Trim(string(req.Name[:]), "\x00"), nil
+}
+
+func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, multiqueue bool) (*tun, error) {
+	baseFlags := uint16(unix.IFF_TUN | unix.IFF_NO_PI)
 	if multiqueue {
-		req.Flags |= unix.IFF_MULTI_QUEUE
+		baseFlags |= unix.IFF_MULTI_QUEUE
 	}
 	nameStr := c.GetString("tun.dev", "")
-	copy(req.Name[:], nameStr)
-	if err = ioctl(uintptr(fd), uintptr(unix.TUNSETIFF), uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&req))); err != nil {
-		_ = unix.Close(fd)
-		return nil, &NameError{
-			Name:       nameStr,
-			Underlying: err,
-		}
+
+	fd, err := openTunDev()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	name, err := tunSetIff(fd, nameStr, baseFlags)
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = unix.Close(fd)
+		return nil, &NameError{Name: nameStr, Underlying: err}
 	}
-	name := strings.Trim(string(req.Name[:]), "\x00")
 
 	t, err := newTunGeneric(c, l, fd, vpnNetworks)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -300,14 +146,19 @@ func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, multiqueue
 
 // newTunGeneric does all the stuff common to different tun initialization paths. It will close your files on error.
 func newTunGeneric(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, fd int, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix) (*tun, error) {
-	tfd, err := newTunFd(fd)
+	container, err := tio.NewPollContainer()
 	if err != nil {
 		_ = unix.Close(fd)
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	err = container.Add(fd)
+	if err != nil {
+		_ = unix.Close(fd)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	t := &tun{
-		tunFile:                   tfd,
-		readers:                   []*tunFile{tfd},
+		readers:                   container,
 		closeLock:                 sync.Mutex{},
 		vpnNetworks:               vpnNetworks,
 		TXQueueLen:                c.GetInt("tun.tx_queue", 500),
@@ -410,32 +261,28 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
 	t.closeLock.Lock()
 	defer t.closeLock.Unlock()
 
 	fd, err := unix.Open("/dev/net/tun", os.O_RDWR, 0)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return err
 	}
 
-	var req ifReq
-	req.Flags = uint16(unix.IFF_TUN | unix.IFF_NO_PI | unix.IFF_MULTI_QUEUE)
-	copy(req.Name[:], t.Device)
-	if err = ioctl(uintptr(fd), uintptr(unix.TUNSETIFF), uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&req))); err != nil {
+	flags := uint16(unix.IFF_TUN | unix.IFF_NO_PI | unix.IFF_MULTI_QUEUE)
+	if _, err = tunSetIff(fd, t.Device, flags); err != nil {
 		_ = unix.Close(fd)
-		return nil, err
+		return err
 	}
 
-	out, err := t.tunFile.newFriend(fd)
+	err = t.readers.Add(fd)
 	if err != nil {
 		_ = unix.Close(fd)
-		return nil, err
+		return err
 	}
 
-	t.readers = append(t.readers, out)
-
-	return out, nil
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (t *tun) RoutesFor(ip netip.Addr) routing.Gateways {
@@ -869,6 +716,10 @@ func (t *tun) updateRoutes(r netlink.RouteUpdate) {
 	t.routeTree.Store(newTree)
 }
 
+func (t *tun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return t.readers.Queues()
+}
+
 func (t *tun) Close() error {
 	t.closeLock.Lock()
 	defer t.closeLock.Unlock()
@@ -878,32 +729,10 @@ func (t *tun) Close() error {
 		t.routeChan = nil
 	}
 
-	// Signal all readers blocked in poll to wake up and exit
-	_ = t.tunFile.wakeForShutdown()
-
 	if t.ioctlFd > 0 {
 		_ = unix.Close(int(t.ioctlFd))
 		t.ioctlFd = 0
 	}
 
-	for i := range t.readers {
-		if i == 0 {
-			continue //we want to close the zeroth reader last
-		}
-		err := t.readers[i].Close()
-		if err != nil {
-			t.l.Error("error closing tun reader", "reader", i, "error", err)
-		} else {
-			t.l.Info("closed tun reader", "reader", i)
-		}
-	}
-
-	//this is t.readers[0] too
-	err := t.tunFile.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.l.Error("error closing tun reader", "reader", 0, "error", err)
-	} else {
-		t.l.Info("closed tun reader", "reader", 0)
-	}
-	return err
+	return t.readers.Close()
 }
diff --git a/overlay/tun_linux_test.go b/overlay/tun_linux_test.go
index 1c1842da..1003a165 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_linux_test.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_linux_test.go
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 
 package overlay
 
-import "testing"
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
 
 var runAdvMSSTests = []struct {
 	name     string
diff --git a/overlay/tun_netbsd.go b/overlay/tun_netbsd.go
index c971bb6e..8275b754 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_netbsd.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_netbsd.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ package overlay
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 	netroute "golang.org/x/net/route"
@@ -66,6 +66,26 @@ type tun struct {
 	l           *slog.Logger
 	f           *os.File
 	fd          int
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	n, err := t.readOne(t.readBuf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = t.readBuf[:n]
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.Write(p)
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{t}
 }
 
 var deviceNameRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^tun[0-9]+$`)
@@ -102,6 +122,7 @@ func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (*t
 		vpnNetworks: vpnNetworks,
 		MTU:         c.GetInt("tun.mtu", DefaultMTU),
 		l:           l,
+		readBuf:     make([]byte, defaultBatchBufSize),
 	}
 
 	err = t.reload(c, true)
@@ -141,7 +162,7 @@ func (t *tun) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t *tun) Read(to []byte) (int, error) {
+func (t *tun) readOne(to []byte) (int, error) {
 	rc, err := t.f.SyscallConn()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("failed to get syscall conn for tun: %w", err)
@@ -394,8 +415,8 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for netbsd")
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for netbsd")
 }
 
 func (t *tun) addRoutes(logErrors bool) error {
diff --git a/overlay/tun_openbsd.go b/overlay/tun_openbsd.go
index 81362184..8c16b977 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_openbsd.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_openbsd.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ package overlay
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 	netroute "golang.org/x/net/route"
@@ -59,6 +59,22 @@ type tun struct {
 	fd          int
 	// cache out buffer since we need to prepend 4 bytes for tun metadata
 	out []byte
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func (t *tun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	n, err := t.readOne(t.readBuf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = t.readBuf[:n]
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
+}
+
+func (t *tun) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.Write(p)
 }
 
 var deviceNameRE = regexp.MustCompile(`^tun[0-9]+$`)
@@ -95,6 +111,7 @@ func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (*t
 		vpnNetworks: vpnNetworks,
 		MTU:         c.GetInt("tun.mtu", DefaultMTU),
 		l:           l,
+		readBuf:     make([]byte, defaultBatchBufSize),
 	}
 
 	err = t.reload(c, true)
@@ -124,7 +141,7 @@ func (t *tun) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t *tun) Read(to []byte) (int, error) {
+func (t *tun) readOne(to []byte) (int, error) {
 	buf := make([]byte, len(to)+4)
 
 	n, err := t.f.Read(buf)
@@ -314,8 +331,8 @@ func (t *tun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for openbsd")
+func (t *tun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for openbsd")
 }
 
 func (t *tun) addRoutes(logErrors bool) error {
@@ -366,6 +383,10 @@ func (t *tun) deviceBytes() (o [16]byte) {
 	return
 }
 
+func (t *tun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{t}
+}
+
 func addRoute(prefix netip.Prefix, gateways []netip.Prefix) error {
 	sock, err := unix.Socket(unix.AF_ROUTE, unix.SOCK_RAW, unix.AF_UNSPEC)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/overlay/tun_tester.go b/overlay/tun_tester.go
index b2c2a0ea..22bc9f5c 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_tester.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_tester.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
@@ -27,6 +28,17 @@ type TestTun struct {
 	closed    atomic.Bool
 	rxPackets chan []byte // Packets to receive into nebula
 	TxPackets chan []byte // Packets transmitted outside by nebula
+
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func (t *TestTun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	p, ok := <-t.rxPackets
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, os.ErrClosed
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = p
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
 }
 
 func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (*TestTun, error) {
@@ -116,6 +128,10 @@ func (t *TestTun) Write(b []byte) (n int, err error) {
 	return len(b), nil
 }
 
+func (t *TestTun) WriteFromSelf(b []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.Write(b)
+}
+
 func (t *TestTun) Close() error {
 	if t.closed.CompareAndSwap(false, true) {
 		close(t.rxPackets)
@@ -124,19 +140,14 @@ func (t *TestTun) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t *TestTun) Read(b []byte) (int, error) {
-	p, ok := <-t.rxPackets
-	if !ok {
-		return 0, os.ErrClosed
-	}
-	copy(b, p)
-	return len(p), nil
+func (t *TestTun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{t}
 }
 
 func (t *TestTun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *TestTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented")
+func (t *TestTun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented")
 }
diff --git a/overlay/tun_windows.go b/overlay/tun_windows.go
index 680dddb3..c99d259f 100644
--- a/overlay/tun_windows.go
+++ b/overlay/tun_windows.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ package overlay
 import (
 	"crypto"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
@@ -18,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/wintun"
@@ -36,6 +36,22 @@ type winTun struct {
 	l           *slog.Logger
 
 	tun *wintun.NativeTun
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func (t *winTun) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	n, err := t.tun.Read(t.readBuf, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	t.batchRet[0] = t.readBuf[:n]
+	return t.batchRet[:], nil
+}
+
+func (t *winTun) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	return t.Write(p)
 }
 
 func newTunFromFd(_ *config.C, _ *slog.Logger, _ int, _ []netip.Prefix) (Device, error) {
@@ -55,6 +71,7 @@ func newTun(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix, _ bool) (*w
 	}
 
 	t := &winTun{
+		readBuf:     make([]byte, defaultBatchBufSize),
 		Device:      deviceName,
 		vpnNetworks: vpnNetworks,
 		MTU:         c.GetInt("tun.mtu", DefaultMTU),
@@ -229,10 +246,6 @@ func (t *winTun) Name() string {
 	return t.Device
 }
 
-func (t *winTun) Read(b []byte) (int, error) {
-	return t.tun.Read(b, 0)
-}
-
 func (t *winTun) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
 	return t.tun.Write(b, 0)
 }
@@ -241,8 +254,12 @@ func (t *winTun) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (t *winTun) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for windows")
+func (t *winTun) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("TODO: multiqueue not implemented for windows")
+}
+
+func (t *winTun) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	return []tio.Queue{t}
 }
 
 func (t *winTun) Close() error {
diff --git a/overlay/user.go b/overlay/user.go
index e5f27f37..fcb1ee51 100644
--- a/overlay/user.go
+++ b/overlay/user.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"net/netip"
 
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
@@ -23,17 +24,34 @@ func NewUserDevice(vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix) (Device, error) {
 		outboundWriter: ow,
 		inboundReader:  ir,
 		inboundWriter:  iw,
+		numReaders:     1,
 	}, nil
 }
 
 type UserDevice struct {
 	vpnNetworks []netip.Prefix
+	numReaders  int
 
 	outboundReader *io.PipeReader
 	outboundWriter *io.PipeWriter
 
 	inboundReader *io.PipeReader
 	inboundWriter *io.PipeWriter
+
+	readBuf  []byte
+	batchRet [1][]byte
+}
+
+func (d *UserDevice) Read() ([][]byte, error) {
+	if d.readBuf == nil {
+		d.readBuf = make([]byte, defaultBatchBufSize)
+	}
+	n, err := d.outboundReader.Read(d.readBuf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	d.batchRet[0] = d.readBuf[:n]
+	return d.batchRet[:], nil
 }
 
 func (d *UserDevice) Activate() error {
@@ -50,20 +68,29 @@ func (d *UserDevice) SupportsMultiqueue() bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func (d *UserDevice) NewMultiQueueReader() (io.ReadWriteCloser, error) {
-	return d, nil
+func (d *UserDevice) NewMultiQueueReader() error {
+	d.numReaders++
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (d *UserDevice) Readers() []tio.Queue {
+	out := make([]tio.Queue, d.numReaders)
+	for i := range d.numReaders {
+		out[i] = d
+	}
+	return out
 }
 
 func (d *UserDevice) Pipe() (*io.PipeReader, *io.PipeWriter) {
 	return d.inboundReader, d.outboundWriter
 }
 
-func (d *UserDevice) Read(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
-	return d.outboundReader.Read(p)
-}
 func (d *UserDevice) Write(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
 	return d.inboundWriter.Write(p)
 }
+func (d *UserDevice) WriteFromSelf(p []byte) (n int, err error) {
+	return d.Write(p)
+}
 func (d *UserDevice) Close() error {
 	d.inboundWriter.Close()
 	d.outboundWriter.Close()
diff --git a/udp/conn.go b/udp/conn.go
index 30d89dec..14902a76 100644
--- a/udp/conn.go
+++ b/udp/conn.go
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ import (
 
 const MTU = 9001
 
+// MaxWriteBatch is the largest batch any Conn.WriteBatch implementation is
+// required to accept. Callers SHOULD NOT pass more than this per call; Linux
+// backends preallocate sendmmsg scratch sized to this value, so exceeding it
+// only costs a chunked retry.
+const MaxWriteBatch = 128
+
 type EncReader func(
 	addr netip.AddrPort,
 	payload []byte,
@@ -16,8 +22,19 @@ type EncReader func(
 type Conn interface {
 	Rebind() error
 	LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error)
-	ListenOut(r EncReader) error
+	// ListenOut invokes r for each received packet. On batch-capable
+	// backends (recvmmsg), flush is called after each batch is fully
+	// delivered — callers use it to flush per-batch accumulators such as
+	// TUN write coalescers. Single-packet backends call flush after each
+	// packet. flush must not be nil.
+	ListenOut(r EncReader, flush func()) error
 	WriteTo(b []byte, addr netip.AddrPort) error
+	// WriteBatch sends a contiguous batch of packets, each with its own
+	// destination. bufs and addrs must have the same length. Linux uses
+	// sendmmsg(2) for a single syscall; other backends fall back to a
+	// WriteTo loop. Returns on the first error; callers may observe a
+	// partial send if some packets went out before the error.
+	WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) error
 	ReloadConfig(c *config.C)
 	SupportsMultipleReaders() bool
 	Close() error
@@ -31,7 +48,7 @@ func (NoopConn) Rebind() error {
 func (NoopConn) LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error) {
 	return netip.AddrPort{}, nil
 }
-func (NoopConn) ListenOut(_ EncReader) error {
+func (NoopConn) ListenOut(_ EncReader, _ func()) error {
 	return nil
 }
 func (NoopConn) SupportsMultipleReaders() bool {
@@ -40,6 +57,9 @@ func (NoopConn) SupportsMultipleReaders() bool {
 func (NoopConn) WriteTo(_ []byte, _ netip.AddrPort) error {
 	return nil
 }
+func (NoopConn) WriteBatch(_ [][]byte, _ []netip.AddrPort) error {
+	return nil
+}
 func (NoopConn) ReloadConfig(_ *config.C) {
 	return
 }
diff --git a/udp/udp_darwin.go b/udp/udp_darwin.go
index 8a4f5b18..2468c6c4 100644
--- a/udp/udp_darwin.go
+++ b/udp/udp_darwin.go
@@ -140,6 +140,15 @@ func (u *StdConn) WriteTo(b []byte, ap netip.AddrPort) error {
 	}
 }
 
+func (u *StdConn) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) error {
+	for i, b := range bufs {
+		if err := u.WriteTo(b, addrs[i]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (u *StdConn) LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error) {
 	a := u.UDPConn.LocalAddr()
 
@@ -165,7 +174,7 @@ func NewUDPStatsEmitter(udpConns []Conn) func() {
 	return func() {}
 }
 
-func (u *StdConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) error {
+func (u *StdConn) ListenOut(r EncReader, flush func()) error {
 	buffer := make([]byte, MTU)
 
 	for {
@@ -180,6 +189,7 @@ func (u *StdConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) error {
 		}
 
 		r(netip.AddrPortFrom(rua.Addr().Unmap(), rua.Port()), buffer[:n])
+		flush()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/udp/udp_generic.go b/udp/udp_generic.go
index 131eb73b..c0dacedb 100644
--- a/udp/udp_generic.go
+++ b/udp/udp_generic.go
@@ -44,6 +44,15 @@ func (u *GenericConn) WriteTo(b []byte, addr netip.AddrPort) error {
 	return err
 }
 
+func (u *GenericConn) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) error {
+	for i, b := range bufs {
+		if _, err := u.UDPConn.WriteToUDPAddrPort(b, addrs[i]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (u *GenericConn) LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error) {
 	a := u.UDPConn.LocalAddr()
 
@@ -73,7 +82,7 @@ type rawMessage struct {
 	Len uint32
 }
 
-func (u *GenericConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) error {
+func (u *GenericConn) ListenOut(r EncReader, flush func()) error {
 	buffer := make([]byte, MTU)
 
 	var lastRecvErr time.Time
@@ -94,6 +103,7 @@ func (u *GenericConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) error {
 		}
 
 		r(netip.AddrPortFrom(rua.Addr().Unmap(), rua.Port()), buffer[:n])
+		flush()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/udp/udp_linux.go b/udp/udp_linux.go
index 3e2d726a..ec840426 100644
--- a/udp/udp_linux.go
+++ b/udp/udp_linux.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func recvmmsg(fd uintptr, msgs []rawMessage) (int, bool, error) {
 	return int(n), true, nil
 }
 
-func (u *StdConn) listenOutSingle(r EncReader) error {
+func (u *StdConn) listenOutSingle(r EncReader, flush func()) error {
 	var err error
 	var n int
 	var from netip.AddrPort
@@ -184,15 +184,17 @@ func (u *StdConn) listenOutSingle(r EncReader) error {
 		}
 		from = netip.AddrPortFrom(from.Addr().Unmap(), from.Port())
 		r(from, buffer[:n])
+		flush()
 	}
 }
 
-func (u *StdConn) listenOutBatch(r EncReader) error {
+func (u *StdConn) listenOutBatch(r EncReader, flush func()) error {
 	var ip netip.Addr
 	var n int
 	var operr error
 
-	msgs, buffers, names := u.PrepareRawMessages(u.batch)
+	bufSize := MTU
+	msgs, buffers, names := u.PrepareRawMessages(u.batch, bufSize)
 
 	//reader needs to capture variables from this function, since it's used as a lambda with rawConn.Read
 	//defining it outside the loop so it gets re-used
@@ -217,16 +219,22 @@ func (u *StdConn) listenOutBatch(r EncReader) error {
 			} else {
 				ip, _ = netip.AddrFromSlice(names[i][8:24])
 			}
-			r(netip.AddrPortFrom(ip.Unmap(), binary.BigEndian.Uint16(names[i][2:4])), buffers[i][:msgs[i].Len])
+			from := netip.AddrPortFrom(ip.Unmap(), binary.BigEndian.Uint16(names[i][2:4]))
+			payload := buffers[i][:msgs[i].Len]
+
+			r(from, payload)
 		}
+		// End-of-batch: let callers (e.g. TUN write coalescer) flush any
+		// state they accumulated across this batch.
+		flush()
 	}
 }
 
-func (u *StdConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) error {
+func (u *StdConn) ListenOut(r EncReader, flush func()) error {
 	if u.batch == 1 {
-		return u.listenOutSingle(r)
+		return u.listenOutSingle(r, flush)
 	} else {
-		return u.listenOutBatch(r)
+		return u.listenOutBatch(r, flush)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -235,6 +243,19 @@ func (u *StdConn) WriteTo(b []byte, ip netip.AddrPort) error {
 	return err
 }
 
+func (u *StdConn) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) error {
+	if len(bufs) != len(addrs) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("WriteBatch: len(bufs)=%d != len(addrs)=%d", len(bufs), len(addrs))
+	}
+	//todo use sendmmsg
+	for i := 0; i < len(bufs); i++ {
+		if _, err := u.udpConn.WriteToUDPAddrPort(bufs[i], addrs[i]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (u *StdConn) ReloadConfig(c *config.C) {
 	b := c.GetInt("listen.read_buffer", 0)
 	if b > 0 {
diff --git a/udp/udp_linux_32.go b/udp/udp_linux_32.go
index de8f1cdf..e253784b 100644
--- a/udp/udp_linux_32.go
+++ b/udp/udp_linux_32.go
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ type rawMessage struct {
 	Len uint32
 }
 
-func (u *StdConn) PrepareRawMessages(n int) ([]rawMessage, [][]byte, [][]byte) {
+func (u *StdConn) PrepareRawMessages(n, bufSize int) ([]rawMessage, [][]byte, [][]byte) {
 	msgs := make([]rawMessage, n)
 	buffers := make([][]byte, n)
 	names := make([][]byte, n)
 
 	for i := range msgs {
-		buffers[i] = make([]byte, MTU)
+		buffers[i] = make([]byte, bufSize)
 		names[i] = make([]byte, unix.SizeofSockaddrInet6)
 
 		vs := []iovec{
@@ -52,3 +52,19 @@ func (u *StdConn) PrepareRawMessages(n int) ([]rawMessage, [][]byte, [][]byte) {
 
 	return msgs, buffers, names
 }
+
+func setIovLen(v *iovec, n int) {
+	v.Len = uint32(n)
+}
+
+func setMsgIovlen(m *msghdr, n int) {
+	m.Iovlen = uint32(n)
+}
+
+func setMsgControllen(m *msghdr, n int) {
+	m.Controllen = uint32(n)
+}
+
+func setCmsgLen(h *unix.Cmsghdr, n int) {
+	h.Len = uint32(n)
+}
diff --git a/udp/udp_linux_64.go b/udp/udp_linux_64.go
index 48c5a978..d18ca281 100644
--- a/udp/udp_linux_64.go
+++ b/udp/udp_linux_64.go
@@ -33,13 +33,13 @@ type rawMessage struct {
 	Pad0 [4]byte
 }
 
-func (u *StdConn) PrepareRawMessages(n int) ([]rawMessage, [][]byte, [][]byte) {
+func (u *StdConn) PrepareRawMessages(n, bufSize int) ([]rawMessage, [][]byte, [][]byte) {
 	msgs := make([]rawMessage, n)
 	buffers := make([][]byte, n)
 	names := make([][]byte, n)
 
 	for i := range msgs {
-		buffers[i] = make([]byte, MTU)
+		buffers[i] = make([]byte, bufSize)
 		names[i] = make([]byte, unix.SizeofSockaddrInet6)
 
 		vs := []iovec{
@@ -55,3 +55,19 @@ func (u *StdConn) PrepareRawMessages(n int) ([]rawMessage, [][]byte, [][]byte) {
 
 	return msgs, buffers, names
 }
+
+func setIovLen(v *iovec, n int) {
+	v.Len = uint64(n)
+}
+
+func setMsgIovlen(m *msghdr, n int) {
+	m.Iovlen = uint64(n)
+}
+
+func setMsgControllen(m *msghdr, n int) {
+	m.Controllen = uint64(n)
+}
+
+func setCmsgLen(h *unix.Cmsghdr, n int) {
+	h.Len = uint64(n)
+}
diff --git a/udp/udp_rio_windows.go b/udp/udp_rio_windows.go
index d110af19..007384b1 100644
--- a/udp/udp_rio_windows.go
+++ b/udp/udp_rio_windows.go
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func (u *RIOConn) bind(l *slog.Logger, sa windows.Sockaddr) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (u *RIOConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) error {
+func (u *RIOConn) ListenOut(r EncReader, flush func()) error {
 	buffer := make([]byte, MTU)
 
 	var lastRecvErr time.Time
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ func (u *RIOConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) error {
 		}
 
 		r(netip.AddrPortFrom(netip.AddrFrom16(rua.Addr).Unmap(), (rua.Port>>8)|((rua.Port&0xff)<<8)), buffer[:n])
+		flush()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -316,6 +317,15 @@ func (u *RIOConn) WriteTo(buf []byte, ip netip.AddrPort) error {
 	return winrio.SendEx(u.rq, dataBuffer, 1, nil, addressBuffer, nil, nil, 0, 0)
 }
 
+func (u *RIOConn) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) error {
+	for i, b := range bufs {
+		if err := u.WriteTo(b, addrs[i]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (u *RIOConn) LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error) {
 	sa, err := windows.Getsockname(u.sock)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/udp/udp_tester.go b/udp/udp_tester.go
index fcd0967c..183a39ba 100644
--- a/udp/udp_tester.go
+++ b/udp/udp_tester.go
@@ -122,13 +122,23 @@ func (u *TesterConn) WriteTo(b []byte, addr netip.AddrPort) error {
 	}
 }
 
-func (u *TesterConn) ListenOut(r EncReader) error {
+func (u *TesterConn) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, addrs []netip.AddrPort) error {
+	for i, b := range bufs {
+		if err := u.WriteTo(b, addrs[i]); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (u *TesterConn) ListenOut(r EncReader, flush func()) error {
 	for {
 		select {
 		case <-u.done:
 			return os.ErrClosed
 		case p := <-u.RxPackets:
 			r(p.From, p.Data)
+			flush()
 		}
 	}
 }