diff --git a/src/chainparams.cpp b/src/chainparams.cpp
index f5cf846a01b..ff104e7c845 100644
--- a/src/chainparams.cpp
+++ b/src/chainparams.cpp
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ public:
     }
 
     virtual bool RequireRPCPassword() const { return false; }
+    virtual bool MiningRequiresPeers() const { return false; }
     virtual Network NetworkID() const { return CChainParams::REGTEST; }
 };
 static CRegTestParams regTestParams;
diff --git a/src/chainparams.h b/src/chainparams.h
index 5600b904ccd..a73279fe67a 100644
--- a/src/chainparams.h
+++ b/src/chainparams.h
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ public:
     int SubsidyHalvingInterval() const { return nSubsidyHalvingInterval; }
     virtual const CBlock& GenesisBlock() const = 0;
     virtual bool RequireRPCPassword() const { return true; }
+    /* Make miner wait to have peers to avoid wasting work */
+    virtual bool MiningRequiresPeers() const { return true; }
     const string& DataDir() const { return strDataDir; }
     virtual Network NetworkID() const = 0;
     const vector<CDNSSeedData>& DNSSeeds() const { return vSeeds; }
diff --git a/src/miner.cpp b/src/miner.cpp
index 94fc8e38885..3d46a0d83e8 100644
--- a/src/miner.cpp
+++ b/src/miner.cpp
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ void static BitcoinMiner(CWallet *pwallet)
     unsigned int nExtraNonce = 0;
 
     try { while (true) {
-        if (Params().NetworkID() != CChainParams::REGTEST) {
+        if (Params().MiningRequiresPeers()) {
             // Busy-wait for the network to come online so we don't waste time mining
             // on an obsolete chain. In regtest mode we expect to fly solo.
             while (vNodes.empty())
@@ -620,7 +620,8 @@ void static BitcoinMiner(CWallet *pwallet)
 
             // Check for stop or if block needs to be rebuilt
             boost::this_thread::interruption_point();
-            if (vNodes.empty() && Params().NetworkID() != CChainParams::REGTEST)
+            // Regtest mode doesn't require peers
+            if (vNodes.empty() && Params().MiningRequiresPeers())
                 break;
             if (nBlockNonce >= 0xffff0000)
                 break;