diff --git a/include/netlink/cache.h b/include/netlink/cache.h
index abeeccbd..070b936d 100644
--- a/include/netlink/cache.h
+++ b/include/netlink/cache.h
@@ -146,6 +146,10 @@ struct nl_cache_mngr;
 extern int			nl_cache_mngr_alloc(struct nl_sock *,
 						    int, int,
 						    struct nl_cache_mngr **);
+extern int			nl_cache_mngr_alloc_ex(struct nl_sock *,
+							struct nl_sock *,
+						    int, int,
+						    struct nl_cache_mngr **);
 extern int			nl_cache_mngr_add(struct nl_cache_mngr *,
 						  const char *,
 						  change_func_t,
diff --git a/lib/cache_mngr.c b/lib/cache_mngr.c
index 7b2a9bd3..54e587d9 100644
--- a/lib/cache_mngr.c
+++ b/lib/cache_mngr.c
@@ -148,6 +148,33 @@ static int event_input(struct nl_msg *msg, void *arg)
  */
 int nl_cache_mngr_alloc(struct nl_sock *sk, int protocol, int flags,
 			struct nl_cache_mngr **result)
+{
+	struct nl_sock *sk_blocking = nl_socket_alloc();
+	int err;
+
+	if (!sk_blocking) {
+		return -NLE_NOMEM;
+	}
+	if ((err = nl_connect(sk_blocking, protocol)) < 0) {
+			nl_socket_free(sk_blocking);
+			return err;
+	}
+	return nl_cache_mngr_alloc_ex(sk, sk_blocking, protocol, flags, result);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Allocate new cache manager, with custom callback on refill socket
+ * @arg sk		Netlink socket or NULL to auto allocate
+ * @arg sk_blocking		Blocking Netlink socket for cache refills
+ * @arg protocol	Netlink protocol this manager is used for
+ * @arg flags		Flags (\c NL_AUTO_PROVIDE)
+ * @arg result		Result pointer
+ *
+ * Same as \f nl_cache_mngr_alloc, but sets custom refill socket
+ * Note: ownership of the sk_blocking passes to the cache manager
+ */
+int nl_cache_mngr_alloc_ex(struct nl_sock *sk, struct nl_sock *sk_blocking, int protocol, int flags,
+			struct nl_cache_mngr **result)
 {
 	struct nl_cache_mngr *mngr;
 	int err = -NLE_NOMEM;
@@ -156,10 +183,18 @@ int nl_cache_mngr_alloc(struct nl_sock *sk, int protocol, int flags,
 	if (flags & NL_ALLOCATED_SOCK)
 		BUG();
 
+	if(!sk_blocking) {
+		BUG();
+	}
+
 	mngr = calloc(1, sizeof(*mngr));
-	if (!mngr)
+	if (!mngr) {
+		// No manager yet, to free it in case of error
+		nl_socket_free(sk_blocking);
 		return -NLE_NOMEM;
+	}
 
+	mngr->cm_sync_sock = sk_blocking;
 	if (!sk) {
 		if (!(sk = nl_socket_alloc()))
 			goto errout;
@@ -185,14 +220,6 @@ int nl_cache_mngr_alloc(struct nl_sock *sk, int protocol, int flags,
 	if ((err = nl_socket_set_nonblocking(mngr->cm_sock)) < 0)
 		goto errout;
 
-	/* Create and allocate socket for sync cache fills */
-	mngr->cm_sync_sock = nl_socket_alloc();
-	if (!mngr->cm_sync_sock) {
-		err = -NLE_NOMEM;
-		goto errout;
-	}
-	if ((err = nl_connect(mngr->cm_sync_sock, protocol)) < 0)
-		goto errout_free_sync_sock;
 
 	NL_DBG(1, "Allocated cache manager %p, protocol %d, %d caches\n",
 	       mngr, protocol, mngr->cm_nassocs);
@@ -200,8 +227,6 @@ int nl_cache_mngr_alloc(struct nl_sock *sk, int protocol, int flags,
 	*result = mngr;
 	return 0;
 
-errout_free_sync_sock:
-	nl_socket_free(mngr->cm_sync_sock);
 errout:
 	nl_cache_mngr_free(mngr);
 	return err;
diff --git a/libnl-3.sym b/libnl-3.sym
index bac4fcda..0196387c 100644
--- a/libnl-3.sym
+++ b/libnl-3.sym
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ global:
 	nl_cache_mngr_add;
 	nl_cache_mngr_add_cache;
 	nl_cache_mngr_alloc;
+	nl_cache_mngr_alloc_ex;
 	nl_cache_mngr_data_ready;
 	nl_cache_mngr_free;
 	nl_cache_mngr_get_fd;