diff --git a/libfprint/fp-device.h b/libfprint/fp-device.h
index 5b41c89..c920b00 100644
--- a/libfprint/fp-device.h
+++ b/libfprint/fp-device.h
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ typedef enum {
  * @FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_STORAGE_DELETE: Supports deleting stored templates
  * @FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_STORAGE_CLEAR: Supports clearing the whole storage
  * @FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_DUPLICATES_CHECK: Natively supports duplicates detection
+ * @FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_ALWAYS_ON: Whether the device can run continuously
  */
 typedef enum /*< flags >*/ {
   FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_NONE = 0,
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ typedef enum /*< flags >*/ {
   FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_STORAGE_DELETE = 1 << 5,
   FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_STORAGE_CLEAR = 1 << 6,
   FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_DUPLICATES_CHECK = 1 << 7,
+  FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_ALWAYS_ON = 1 << 8,
 } FpDeviceFeature;
 
 /**
diff --git a/libfprint/fpi-device.c b/libfprint/fpi-device.c
index fbce24c..5704622 100644
--- a/libfprint/fpi-device.c
+++ b/libfprint/fpi-device.c
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ fpi_device_class_auto_initialize_features (FpDeviceClass *device_class)
 
   if (device_class->delete && (device_class->list || device_class->clear_storage))
     device_class->features |= FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_STORAGE;
+
+  if (device_class->temp_hot_seconds < 0)
+    device_class->features |= FP_DEVICE_FEATURE_ALWAYS_ON;
 }
 
 /**