diff --git a/src/core/common/message.hpp b/src/core/common/message.hpp
index 125d8de7c..868295913 100644
--- a/src/core/common/message.hpp
+++ b/src/core/common/message.hpp
@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ public:
         kSubTypeMleDiscoverRequest  = 2,  ///< MLE Discover Request
         kSubTypeMleDiscoverResponse = 3,  ///< MLE Discover Response
         kSubTypeJoinerEntrust       = 4,  ///< Joiner Entrust
+        kSubTypeMplRetransmission   = 5,  ///< MPL next retranmission message
     };
 
     enum
diff --git a/src/core/net/ip6_mpl.cpp b/src/core/net/ip6_mpl.cpp
index 2eda0fdd8..dbd47f4d7 100644
--- a/src/core/net/ip6_mpl.cpp
+++ b/src/core/net/ip6_mpl.cpp
@@ -286,6 +286,11 @@ void Mpl::HandleRetransmissionTimer()
 
                 if (messageCopy != NULL)
                 {
+                    if (messageMetadata.GetTransmissionCount() > 1)
+                    {
+                        messageCopy->SetSubType(Message::kSubTypeMplRetransmission);
+                    }
+
                     mIp6.EnqueueDatagram(*messageCopy);
                 }
 
@@ -304,6 +309,11 @@ void Mpl::HandleRetransmissionTimer()
 
                 if (messageMetadata.GetTransmissionCount() == GetTimerExpirations())
                 {
+                    if (messageMetadata.GetTransmissionCount() > 1)
+                    {
+                        message->SetSubType(Message::kSubTypeMplRetransmission);
+                    }
+
                     // Remove the extra metadata from the MPL Data Message.
                     messageMetadata.RemoveFrom(*message);
                     mIp6.EnqueueDatagram(*message);
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
index be38e184e..8d88bca85 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
@@ -410,16 +410,19 @@ ThreadError MeshForwarder::SendMessage(Message &aMessage)
             // schedule direct transmission
             aMessage.SetDirectTransmission();
 
-            // destined for all sleepy children
-            children = mMle.GetChildren(&numChildren);
-
-            for (uint8_t i = 0; i < numChildren; i++)
+            if (aMessage.GetSubType() != Message::kSubTypeMplRetransmission)
             {
-                if (children[i].mState == Neighbor::kStateValid && (children[i].mMode & Mle::ModeTlv::kModeRxOnWhenIdle) == 0)
+                // destined for all sleepy children
+                children = mMle.GetChildren(&numChildren);
+
+                for (uint8_t i = 0; i < numChildren; i++)
                 {
-                    children[i].mQueuedIndirectMessageCnt++;
-                    AddSrcMatchEntry(children[i]);
-                    aMessage.SetChildMask(i);
+                    if (children[i].mState == Neighbor::kStateValid && (children[i].mMode & Mle::ModeTlv::kModeRxOnWhenIdle) == 0)
+                    {
+                        children[i].mQueuedIndirectMessageCnt++;
+                        AddSrcMatchEntry(children[i]);
+                        aMessage.SetChildMask(i);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }