diff --git a/kafka/net/compat.py b/kafka/net/compat.py
index 450182c9e..7791c98aa 100644
--- a/kafka/net/compat.py
+++ b/kafka/net/compat.py
@@ -129,15 +129,6 @@ def send_and_receive(self, node_id, request, timeout_ms=30000):
 
     def poll(self, timeout_ms=None, future=None):
         with self._lock:
-            metadata_ttl = self._manager.cluster.ttl()
-            if metadata_ttl == 0:
-                self._manager.update_metadata()
-            elif self._manager.cluster.need_update:
-                # A refresh is pending but retry_backoff hasn't elapsed yet.
-                # Cap timeout_ms so select() returns in time for us to come
-                # back and re-check ttl.
-                if timeout_ms is None or metadata_ttl < timeout_ms:
-                    timeout_ms = metadata_ttl
             return self._manager.poll(timeout_ms=timeout_ms, future=future)
 
     def close(self, node_id=None):
diff --git a/kafka/net/manager.py b/kafka/net/manager.py
index ecf953225..db1c1409c 100644
--- a/kafka/net/manager.py
+++ b/kafka/net/manager.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ def __init__(self, net, cluster, **configs):
         self.broker_version_data = None
         self._bootstrap_future = None
         self._metadata_future = None
+        self._refresh_loop_task = None
         self._io_thread = None
         self._pending_waiters = {}  # event -> state dict, for pending run() waiters
         self._pending_waiters_lock = threading.Lock()
@@ -144,6 +145,8 @@ def bootstrap(self, timeout_ms=None):
         deadline = None if timeout_ms is None else time.monotonic() + timeout_ms / 1000
         self._bootstrap_future = self.call_soon(self._do_bootstrap, deadline)
         self._bootstrap_future.add_errback(lambda exc: log.error('Bootstrap failed: %s', exc))
+        if self._refresh_loop_task is None:
+            self._refresh_loop_task = self._net.call_soon(self._metadata_refresh_loop)
         return self._bootstrap_future
 
     @property
@@ -344,10 +347,25 @@ async def _do_update_metadata(self):
             except Exception as exc:
                 self.cluster.failed_update(exc)
                 raise
-            finally:
-                # Schedule next periodic refresh
-                ttl = self.cluster.ttl() / 1000
-                self._net.call_later(max(0, ttl), self.update_metadata)
+
+    async def _metadata_refresh_loop(self):
+        """Long-running coroutine that owns periodic metadata refresh.
+
+        Sleeps for cluster.ttl() then triggers update_metadata(). Exits with
+        the event loop — stop() tears down the loop and this task with it.
+        """
+        while True:
+            ttl_ms = self.cluster.ttl()
+            if ttl_ms > 0:
+                log.debug(f'Metadata loop: sleeping for {ttl_ms / 1000} secs')
+                await self._net.sleep(ttl_ms / 1000)
+                continue
+            try:
+                log.debug(f'Metadata loop: updating metadata')
+                await self.update_metadata()
+            except Exception as exc:
+                log.debug('Metadata refresh failed: %s', exc)
+                # failed_update() already set backoff; loop re-reads ttl
 
     def close(self, node_id=None):
         if node_id is not None:
diff --git a/test/net/test_manager.py b/test/net/test_manager.py
index cf1325dee..1be969e32 100644
--- a/test/net/test_manager.py
+++ b/test/net/test_manager.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import socket
+import threading
 import time
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
@@ -320,6 +321,45 @@ def test_refresh_metadata_retries_no_node(self, net, cluster):
             # Should have a scheduled retry
             assert len(net._scheduled) > 0
 
+    def test_bootstrap_triggers_refresh_loop(self, net, cluster):
+        """bootstrap() schedules the periodic metadata refresh loop, so
+        update_metadata fires without anyone calling it from compat.poll()."""
+        manager = KafkaConnectionManager(net, cluster,
+                                         socket_connection_timeout_ms=1000,
+                                         reconnect_backoff_ms=10)
+        assert manager._refresh_loop_task is None
+        call_count = [0]
+        done = threading.Event()
+        orig = manager.update_metadata
+
+        def counting_update():
+            call_count[0] += 1
+            if call_count[0] >= 1:
+                done.set()
+            return orig()
+
+        with patch.object(manager, 'update_metadata', side_effect=counting_update):
+            manager.bootstrap(timeout_ms=100)
+            assert manager._refresh_loop_task is not None
+            manager.start()
+            try:
+                assert done.wait(timeout=2), "refresh loop never called update_metadata"
+            finally:
+                manager.stop(timeout=2)
+        assert call_count[0] >= 1
+
+    def test_refresh_loop_spawned_once(self, net, cluster):
+        """Calling bootstrap() multiple times must not spawn multiple refresh
+        loop tasks."""
+        manager = KafkaConnectionManager(net, cluster,
+                                         socket_connection_timeout_ms=1000,
+                                         reconnect_backoff_ms=10)
+        manager.bootstrap(timeout_ms=100)
+        task = manager._refresh_loop_task
+        assert task is not None
+        manager.bootstrap(timeout_ms=100)
+        assert manager._refresh_loop_task is task
+
 
 class TestKafkaConnectionManagerClose:
     def test_close_single_connection(self, manager):