diff --git a/src/eapol.c b/src/eapol.c
index 7e0442da..86e2b004 100644
--- a/src/eapol.c
+++ b/src/eapol.c
@@ -2201,6 +2201,11 @@ void __eapol_set_rekey_offload_func(eapol_rekey_offload_func_t func)
 	rekey_offload = func;
 }
 
+void eapol_set_started(struct eapol_sm *sm)
+{
+	sm->started = true;
+}
+
 void eapol_register(struct eapol_sm *sm)
 {
 	l_queue_push_head(state_machines, sm);
diff --git a/src/eapol.h b/src/eapol.h
index 2306048e..e3a9943d 100644
--- a/src/eapol.h
+++ b/src/eapol.h
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ void eapol_sm_set_listen_interval(struct eapol_sm *sm, uint16_t interval);
 void eapol_sm_set_user_data(struct eapol_sm *sm, void *user_data);
 void eapol_sm_set_event_func(struct eapol_sm *sm, eapol_sm_event_func_t func);
 
+void eapol_set_started(struct eapol_sm *sm);
 void eapol_register(struct eapol_sm *sm);
 bool eapol_start(struct eapol_sm *sm);