A method for increasing performance of selected poll applications without recompilation. In one embodiment, the method is comprised of assigning the name of a library as a value for an environment variable in a software application. The library is comprised of software code for emulating a system call. The method is further comprised of launching the software application. The launching causes invocation of a loader associated with the software application. The method is further comprised of preloading the library into the software application. The preloading performed by the loader. The method is further comprised of redirecting the software application to invoke an alternative mechanism when the software application requests a system call. The invocation of the alternative mechanism implements the library as the system call. The method is further comprised of registering a plurality of file descriptors and events of interest with the alternative mechanism when the application makes said system call with a list of file descriptors identifying sockets for which the application has interest in events. Each of said plurality said file descriptors is related to an event of interest pertaining to an associated socket of interest. Those sockets with registered file descriptors are examined by the software application.