diff --git a/doc/api/doxy-api-index.md b/doc/api/doxy-api-index.md
index a9c12d1..00f13e2 100644
--- a/doc/api/doxy-api-index.md
+++ b/doc/api/doxy-api-index.md
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ The public API headers are grouped by topics:
   [dpaa2_cmdif]        (@ref rte_pmd_dpaa2_cmdif.h),
   [dpaa2_qdma]         (@ref rte_pmd_dpaa2_qdma.h),
   [crypto_scheduler]   (@ref rte_cryptodev_scheduler.h)
+  [dlb2]	       (@ref rte_pmd_dlb2.h)
 
 - **memory**:
   [memseg]             (@ref rte_memory.h),
diff --git a/drivers/event/dlb2/dlb2.c b/drivers/event/dlb2/dlb2.c
index 82108b6..7a22231 100644
--- a/drivers/event/dlb2/dlb2.c
+++ b/drivers/event/dlb2/dlb2.c
@@ -1197,7 +1197,7 @@ dlb2_hw_create_ldb_port(struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2,
 	qm_port->qid_mappings = &dlb2->qm_ldb_to_ev_queue_id[0];
 
 	qm_port->dequeue_depth = dequeue_depth;
-
+	qm_port->token_pop_thresh = dequeue_depth;
 	qm_port->owed_tokens = 0;
 	qm_port->issued_releases = 0;
 
@@ -1365,6 +1365,8 @@ dlb2_hw_create_dir_port(struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2,
 
 	qm_port->dequeue_depth = dequeue_depth;
 
+	/* Directed ports are auto-pop, by default. */
+	qm_port->token_pop_mode = AUTO_POP;
 	qm_port->owed_tokens = 0;
 	qm_port->issued_releases = 0;
 
@@ -2612,6 +2614,14 @@ dlb2_event_enqueue_burst(void *event_port,
 		dlb2_event_build_hcws(qm_port, &events[i], j,
 				      sched_types, queue_ids);
 
+		if (qm_port->token_pop_mode == DELAYED_POP && j < 4 &&
+		    qm_port->issued_releases >= qm_port->token_pop_thresh - 1) {
+			dlb2_construct_token_pop_qe(qm_port, j);
+
+			/* Reset the releases counter for the next QE batch */
+			qm_port->issued_releases -= qm_port->token_pop_thresh;
+		}
+
 		dlb2_hw_do_enqueue(qm_port, i == 0, port_data);
 
 		cnt += j;
@@ -2620,6 +2630,11 @@ dlb2_event_enqueue_burst(void *event_port,
 			break;
 	}
 
+	if (qm_port->token_pop_mode == DELAYED_POP &&
+	    qm_port->issued_releases >= qm_port->token_pop_thresh - 1) {
+		dlb2_consume_qe_immediate(qm_port, qm_port->owed_tokens);
+		qm_port->issued_releases -= qm_port->token_pop_thresh;
+	}
 	return cnt;
 }
 
@@ -3097,11 +3112,25 @@ dlb2_event_release(struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2,
 		if (j == 0)
 			break;
 
+		if (qm_port->token_pop_mode == DELAYED_POP && j < 4 &&
+		    qm_port->issued_releases >= qm_port->token_pop_thresh - 1) {
+			dlb2_construct_token_pop_qe(qm_port, j);
+
+			/* Reset the releases counter for the next QE batch */
+			qm_port->issued_releases -= qm_port->token_pop_thresh;
+		}
+
 		dlb2_hw_do_enqueue(qm_port, i == 0, port_data);
 
 		cnt += j;
 	}
 
+	if (qm_port->token_pop_mode == DELAYED_POP &&
+	    qm_port->issued_releases >= qm_port->token_pop_thresh - 1) {
+		dlb2_consume_qe_immediate(qm_port, qm_port->owed_tokens);
+		qm_port->issued_releases -= qm_port->token_pop_thresh;
+	}
+
 sw_credit_update:
 	/* each release returns one credit */
 	if (!ev_port->outstanding_releases) {
@@ -3185,8 +3214,8 @@ dlb2_hw_dequeue_sparse(struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2,
 	qm_port->owed_tokens += num;
 
 	if (num) {
-
-		dlb2_consume_qe_immediate(qm_port, num);
+		if (qm_port->token_pop_mode == AUTO_POP)
+			dlb2_consume_qe_immediate(qm_port, num);
 
 		ev_port->outstanding_releases += num;
 
@@ -3312,8 +3341,8 @@ dlb2_hw_dequeue(struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2,
 	qm_port->owed_tokens += num;
 
 	if (num) {
-
-		dlb2_consume_qe_immediate(qm_port, num);
+		if (qm_port->token_pop_mode == AUTO_POP)
+			dlb2_consume_qe_immediate(qm_port, num);
 
 		ev_port->outstanding_releases += num;
 
@@ -3328,6 +3357,7 @@ dlb2_event_dequeue_burst(void *event_port, struct rte_event *ev, uint16_t num,
 			 uint64_t wait)
 {
 	struct dlb2_eventdev_port *ev_port = event_port;
+	struct dlb2_port *qm_port = &ev_port->qm_port;
 	struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2 = ev_port->dlb2;
 	uint16_t cnt;
 
@@ -3343,6 +3373,9 @@ dlb2_event_dequeue_burst(void *event_port, struct rte_event *ev, uint16_t num,
 		DLB2_INC_STAT(ev_port->stats.tx_implicit_rel, out_rels);
 	}
 
+	if (qm_port->token_pop_mode == DEFERRED_POP && qm_port->owed_tokens)
+		dlb2_consume_qe_immediate(qm_port, qm_port->owed_tokens);
+
 	cnt = dlb2_hw_dequeue(dlb2, ev_port, ev, num, wait);
 
 	DLB2_INC_STAT(ev_port->stats.traffic.total_polls, 1);
@@ -3362,6 +3395,7 @@ dlb2_event_dequeue_burst_sparse(void *event_port, struct rte_event *ev,
 				uint16_t num, uint64_t wait)
 {
 	struct dlb2_eventdev_port *ev_port = event_port;
+	struct dlb2_port *qm_port = &ev_port->qm_port;
 	struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2 = ev_port->dlb2;
 	uint16_t cnt;
 
@@ -3377,6 +3411,9 @@ dlb2_event_dequeue_burst_sparse(void *event_port, struct rte_event *ev,
 		DLB2_INC_STAT(ev_port->stats.tx_implicit_rel, out_rels);
 	}
 
+	if (qm_port->token_pop_mode == DEFERRED_POP && qm_port->owed_tokens)
+		dlb2_consume_qe_immediate(qm_port, qm_port->owed_tokens);
+
 	cnt = dlb2_hw_dequeue_sparse(dlb2, ev_port, ev, num, wait);
 
 	DLB2_INC_STAT(ev_port->stats.traffic.total_polls, 1);
@@ -3681,7 +3718,7 @@ dlb2_primary_eventdev_probe(struct rte_eventdev *dev,
 			    struct dlb2_devargs *dlb2_args)
 {
 	struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2;
-	int err;
+	int err, i;
 
 	dlb2 = dev->data->dev_private;
 
@@ -3731,6 +3768,10 @@ dlb2_primary_eventdev_probe(struct rte_eventdev *dev,
 		return err;
 	}
 
+	/* Initialize each port's token pop mode */
+	for (i = 0; i < DLB2_MAX_NUM_PORTS; i++)
+		dlb2->ev_ports[i].qm_port.token_pop_mode = AUTO_POP;
+
 	rte_spinlock_init(&dlb2->qm_instance.resource_lock);
 
 	dlb2_iface_low_level_io_init();
diff --git a/drivers/event/dlb2/dlb2_priv.h b/drivers/event/dlb2/dlb2_priv.h
index 61567a6..b73cf3f 100644
--- a/drivers/event/dlb2/dlb2_priv.h
+++ b/drivers/event/dlb2/dlb2_priv.h
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <rte_config.h>
 #include "dlb2_user.h"
 #include "dlb2_log.h"
+#include "rte_pmd_dlb2.h"
 
 #ifndef RTE_LIBRTE_PMD_DLB2_QUELL_STATS
 #define DLB2_INC_STAT(_stat, _incr_val) ((_stat) += _incr_val)
@@ -290,6 +291,7 @@ struct dlb2_port {
 	bool gen_bit;
 	uint16_t dir_credits;
 	uint32_t dequeue_depth;
+	enum dlb2_token_pop_mode token_pop_mode;
 	union dlb2_port_config cfg;
 	uint32_t *credit_pool[DLB2_NUM_QUEUE_TYPES]; /* use __atomic builtins */
 	uint16_t cached_ldb_credits;
@@ -298,6 +300,7 @@ struct dlb2_port {
 	bool int_armed;
 	uint16_t owed_tokens;
 	int16_t issued_releases;
+	int16_t token_pop_thresh;
 	int cq_depth;
 	uint16_t cq_idx;
 	uint16_t cq_idx_unmasked;
diff --git a/drivers/event/dlb2/meson.build b/drivers/event/dlb2/meson.build
index dc16c96..b734ff6 100644
--- a/drivers/event/dlb2/meson.build
+++ b/drivers/event/dlb2/meson.build
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 # Copyright(c) 2019-2020 Intel Corporation
 
@@ -12,7 +13,9 @@ sources = files('dlb2.c',
 		'dlb2_xstats.c',
 		'pf/dlb2_main.c',
 		'pf/dlb2_pf.c',
-		'pf/base/dlb2_resource.c'
+		'pf/base/dlb2_resource.c',
+		'rte_pmd_dlb2.c'
 )
 
 deps += ['mbuf', 'mempool', 'ring', 'pci', 'bus_pci']
+install_headers('rte_pmd_dlb2.h')
diff --git a/drivers/event/dlb2/rte_pmd_dlb2.c b/drivers/event/dlb2/rte_pmd_dlb2.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b09b585
--- /dev/null
+++ b/drivers/event/dlb2/rte_pmd_dlb2.c
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright(c) 2020 Intel Corporation
+ */
+
+#include <rte_eventdev.h>
+#include <rte_eventdev_pmd.h>
+
+#include "rte_pmd_dlb2.h"
+#include "dlb2_priv.h"
+#include "dlb2_inline_fns.h"
+
+int
+rte_pmd_dlb2_set_token_pop_mode(uint8_t dev_id,
+				uint8_t port_id,
+				enum dlb2_token_pop_mode mode)
+{
+	struct dlb2_eventdev *dlb2;
+	struct rte_eventdev *dev;
+
+	RTE_EVENTDEV_VALID_DEVID_OR_ERR_RET(dev_id, -EINVAL);
+	dev = &rte_eventdevs[dev_id];
+
+	dlb2 = dlb2_pmd_priv(dev);
+
+	if (mode >= NUM_TOKEN_POP_MODES)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	/* The event device must be configured, but not yet started */
+	if (!dlb2->configured || dlb2->run_state != DLB2_RUN_STATE_STOPPED)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	/* The token pop mode must be set before configuring the port */
+	if (port_id >= dlb2->num_ports || dlb2->ev_ports[port_id].setup_done)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	dlb2->ev_ports[port_id].qm_port.token_pop_mode = mode;
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/drivers/event/dlb2/rte_pmd_dlb2.h b/drivers/event/dlb2/rte_pmd_dlb2.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..74399db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/drivers/event/dlb2/rte_pmd_dlb2.h
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ * Copyright(c) 2020 Intel Corporation
+ */
+
+/*!
+ *  @file      rte_pmd_dlb2.h
+ *
+ *  @brief     DLB PMD-specific functions
+ */
+
+#ifndef _RTE_PMD_DLB2_H_
+#define _RTE_PMD_DLB2_H_
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+/**
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change, or be removed, without prior notice
+ *
+ * Selects the token pop mode for a DLB2 port.
+ */
+enum dlb2_token_pop_mode {
+	/* Pop the CQ tokens immediately after dequeueing. */
+	AUTO_POP,
+	/* Pop CQ tokens after (dequeue_depth - 1) events are released.
+	 * Supported on load-balanced ports only.
+	 */
+	DELAYED_POP,
+	/* Pop the CQ tokens during next dequeue operation. */
+	DEFERRED_POP,
+
+	/* NUM_TOKEN_POP_MODES must be last */
+	NUM_TOKEN_POP_MODES
+};
+
+/*!
+ * @warning
+ * @b EXPERIMENTAL: this API may change, or be removed, without prior notice
+ *
+ * Configure the token pop mode for a DLB2 port. By default, all ports use
+ * AUTO_POP. This function must be called before calling rte_event_port_setup()
+ * for the port, but after calling rte_event_dev_configure().
+ *
+ * @param dev_id
+ *    The identifier of the event device.
+ * @param port_id
+ *    The identifier of the event port.
+ * @param mode
+ *    The token pop mode.
+ *
+ * @return
+ * - 0: Success
+ * - EINVAL: Invalid dev_id, port_id, or mode
+ * - EINVAL: The DLB2 is not configured, is already running, or the port is
+ *   already setup
+ */
+
+__rte_experimental
+int
+rte_pmd_dlb2_set_token_pop_mode(uint8_t dev_id,
+				uint8_t port_id,
+				enum dlb2_token_pop_mode mode);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif /* _RTE_PMD_DLB2_H_ */
diff --git a/drivers/event/dlb2/version.map b/drivers/event/dlb2/version.map
index 4a76d1d..b1e4dff 100644
--- a/drivers/event/dlb2/version.map
+++ b/drivers/event/dlb2/version.map
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
 DPDK_21 {
 	local: *;
 };
+
+EXPERIMENTAL {
+	global:
+
+	rte_pmd_dlb2_set_token_pop_mode;
+};
