diff --git a/lib/routes/pollingRoutes.js b/lib/routes/pollingRoutes.js
index e0f4b4c2..5b00da23 100644
--- a/lib/routes/pollingRoutes.js
+++ b/lib/routes/pollingRoutes.js
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ function poll (req, res, next) {
 
   state.pids = _.update(operatorId, _.set(deviceId, { pid, ts: Date.now() }), state.pids)
 
+  // BACKWARDS_COMPATIBILITY 8.1
+  // Machines after 8.1 only need the server version from the initial polling request.
+  if (semver.gte(machineVersion, '8.1.0-beta.0'))
+    return res.json({ version })
+
   return Promise.all([
       pi.recordPing(deviceTime, machineVersion, machineModel),
       pi.pollQueries(),