diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_accept_sec_context.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_accept_sec_context.c
index 59f2803b7a9c..3758a4ac4871 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_accept_sec_context.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_accept_sec_context.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -58,9 +60,13 @@ OM_uint32 gss_accept_sec_context(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	gss_ctx_id_t ctx = *context_handle;
 	gss_name_t name;
 	gss_cred_id_t cred;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL) {
+		*minor_status = 0;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
+	}
 
 	if (ctx)
 		args.ctx = ctx->handle;
@@ -74,7 +80,8 @@ OM_uint32 gss_accept_sec_context(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	args.input_chan_bindings = input_chan_bindings;
 
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_accept_sec_context_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_accept_sec_context_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_acquire_cred.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_acquire_cred.c
index e5fe82179d16..4a5f115c659f 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_acquire_cred.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_acquire_cred.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 #include <sys/proc.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
@@ -55,8 +57,11 @@ gss_acquire_cred(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
 	gss_cred_id_t cred;
 	int i;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
+	*minor_status = 0;
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 
 	args.uid = curthread->td_ucred->cr_uid;
@@ -69,7 +74,8 @@ gss_acquire_cred(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	args.cred_usage = cred_usage;
 
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_acquire_cred_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_acquire_cred_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -80,7 +86,6 @@ gss_acquire_cred(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 		return (res.major_status);
 	}
 
-	*minor_status = 0;
 	cred = malloc(sizeof(struct _gss_cred_id_t), M_GSSAPI, M_WAITOK);
 	cred->handle = res.output_cred;
 	*output_cred_handle = cred;
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_canonicalize_name.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_canonicalize_name.c
index bea3dd8ddb2c..940f64a4f178 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_canonicalize_name.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_canonicalize_name.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -48,15 +50,19 @@ gss_canonicalize_name(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	struct canonicalize_name_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
 	gss_name_t name;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
+	*minor_status = 0;
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 
 	args.input_name = input_name->handle;
 	args.mech_type = mech_type;
 	
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_canonicalize_name_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_canonicalize_name_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -69,7 +75,6 @@ gss_canonicalize_name(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 
 	name = malloc(sizeof(struct _gss_name_t), M_GSSAPI, M_WAITOK);
 	name->handle = res.output_name;
-	*minor_status = 0;
 	*output_name = name;
 
 	return (GSS_S_COMPLETE);
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_delete_sec_context.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_delete_sec_context.c
index e1582a2712e4..8689927816e1 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_delete_sec_context.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_delete_sec_context.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -46,6 +48,9 @@ gss_delete_sec_context(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_ctx_id_t *context_handle,
 	struct delete_sec_context_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
 	gss_ctx_id_t ctx;
+	CLIENT *cl;
+
+	*minor_status = 0;
 
 	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -60,9 +65,13 @@ gss_delete_sec_context(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_ctx_id_t *context_handle,
 		 */
 		if (ctx->handle) {
 			args.ctx = ctx->handle;
+			cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+			if (cl == NULL)
+				return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 	
 			bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-			stat = gssd_delete_sec_context_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+			stat = gssd_delete_sec_context_1(&args, &res, cl);
+			CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 			if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 				*minor_status = stat;
 				return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -85,7 +94,5 @@ gss_delete_sec_context(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_ctx_id_t *context_handle,
 		}
 	}
 
-	*minor_status = 0;
-
 	return (GSS_S_COMPLETE);
 }
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_display_status.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_display_status.c
index 0b5b79d17b6b..e03a3762aa8b 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_display_status.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_display_status.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -49,8 +51,11 @@ gss_display_status(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	struct display_status_res res;
 	struct display_status_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
+	*minor_status = 0;
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 
 	args.status_value = status_value;
@@ -59,7 +64,8 @@ gss_display_status(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	args.message_context = *message_context;
 	
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_display_status_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_display_status_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -70,7 +76,6 @@ gss_display_status(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 		return (res.major_status);
 	}
 
-	*minor_status = 0;
 	*message_context = res.message_context;
 	kgss_copy_buffer(&res.status_string, status_string);
 	xdr_free((xdrproc_t) xdr_display_status_res, &res);
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_export_name.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_export_name.c
index 63c1e8acd8f9..23c3ed81b5f6 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_export_name.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_export_name.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -45,14 +47,18 @@ gss_export_name(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_name_t input_name,
 	struct export_name_res res;
 	struct export_name_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
+	*minor_status = 0;
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 
 	args.input_name = input_name->handle;
 
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_export_name_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_export_name_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -63,7 +69,6 @@ gss_export_name(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_name_t input_name,
 		return (res.major_status);
 	}
 
-	*minor_status = 0;
 	kgss_copy_buffer(&res.exported_name, exported_name);
 	xdr_free((xdrproc_t) xdr_export_name_res, &res);
 
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_impl.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_impl.c
index d66b4a95a2c9..365a87600806 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_impl.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_impl.c
@@ -31,8 +31,10 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
 #include <sys/module.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 #include <sys/priv.h>
 #include <sys/syscall.h>
 #include <sys/sysent.h>
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ static bool_t gssd_syscall_registered = FALSE;
 
 struct kgss_mech_list kgss_mechs;
 CLIENT *kgss_gssd_handle;
+struct mtx kgss_gssd_lock;
 
 static void
 kgss_init(void *dummy)
@@ -92,14 +95,12 @@ sys_gssd_syscall(struct thread *td, struct gssd_syscall_args *uap)
         struct netconfig *nconf;
 	char path[MAXPATHLEN];
 	int error;
+	CLIENT *cl, *oldcl;
         
 	error = priv_check(td, PRIV_NFS_DAEMON);
 	if (error)
 		return (error);
 
-	if (kgss_gssd_handle)
-		CLNT_DESTROY(kgss_gssd_handle);
-
 	error = copyinstr(uap->path, path, sizeof(path), NULL);
 	if (error)
 		return (error);
@@ -109,10 +110,20 @@ sys_gssd_syscall(struct thread *td, struct gssd_syscall_args *uap)
         sun.sun_len = SUN_LEN(&sun);
         
         nconf = getnetconfigent("local");
-        kgss_gssd_handle = clnt_reconnect_create(nconf,
+        cl = clnt_reconnect_create(nconf,
 	    (struct sockaddr *) &sun, GSSD, GSSDVERS,
 	    RPC_MAXDATASIZE, RPC_MAXDATASIZE);
 
+	mtx_lock(&kgss_gssd_lock);
+	oldcl = kgss_gssd_handle;
+	kgss_gssd_handle = cl;
+	mtx_unlock(&kgss_gssd_lock);
+
+	if (oldcl != NULL) {
+		CLNT_CLOSE(oldcl);
+		CLNT_RELEASE(oldcl);
+	}
+
 	return (0);
 }
 
@@ -248,6 +259,23 @@ kgss_copy_buffer(const gss_buffer_t from, gss_buffer_t to)
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Acquire the kgss_gssd_handle and return it with a reference count,
+ * if it is available.
+ */
+CLIENT *
+kgss_gssd_client(void)
+{
+	CLIENT *cl;
+
+	mtx_lock(&kgss_gssd_lock);
+	cl = kgss_gssd_handle;
+	if (cl != NULL)
+		CLNT_ACQUIRE(cl);
+	mtx_unlock(&kgss_gssd_lock);
+	return (cl);
+}
+
 /*
  * Kernel module glue
  */
@@ -280,6 +308,7 @@ kgssapi_modevent(module_t mod, int type, void *data)
 		    rpc_gss_get_principal_name;
 		rpc_gss_entries.rpc_gss_svc_max_data_length =
 		    rpc_gss_svc_max_data_length;
+		mtx_init(&kgss_gssd_lock, "kgss_gssd_lock", NULL, MTX_DEF);
 		break;
 	case MOD_UNLOAD:
 		/*
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_import_name.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_import_name.c
index c8019c5a13b6..d3a224040b7f 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_import_name.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_import_name.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -48,18 +50,21 @@ gss_import_name(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	struct import_name_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
 	gss_name_t name;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
 	*minor_status = 0;
 	*output_name = GSS_C_NO_NAME;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 
 	args.input_name_buffer = *input_name_buffer;
 	args.input_name_type = input_name_type;
 	
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_import_name_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_import_name_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_init_sec_context.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_init_sec_context.c
index 0b7cee3b6b9c..64999e43890a 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_init_sec_context.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_init_sec_context.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 #include <sys/proc.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
@@ -60,10 +62,12 @@ gss_init_sec_context(OM_uint32 * minor_status,
 	struct init_sec_context_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
 	gss_ctx_id_t ctx = *context_handle;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
 	*minor_status = 0;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 
 	args.uid = curthread->td_ucred->cr_uid;
@@ -88,7 +92,8 @@ gss_init_sec_context(OM_uint32 * minor_status,
 	}
 
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_init_sec_context_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_init_sec_context_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_pname_to_uid.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_pname_to_uid.c
index b83fd733cd9c..45ead361465b 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_pname_to_uid.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_pname_to_uid.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -45,20 +47,23 @@ gss_pname_to_uid(OM_uint32 *minor_status, const gss_name_t pname,
 	struct pname_to_uid_res res;
 	struct pname_to_uid_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
 	*minor_status = 0;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
-		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
-
 	if (pname == GSS_C_NO_NAME)
 		return (GSS_S_BAD_NAME);
 
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
+		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
+
 	args.pname = pname->handle;
 	args.mech = mech;
 
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_pname_to_uid_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_pname_to_uid_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -83,20 +88,23 @@ gss_pname_to_unix_cred(OM_uint32 *minor_status, const gss_name_t pname,
 	struct pname_to_uid_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
 	int i, n;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
 	*minor_status = 0;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
-		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
-
 	if (pname == GSS_C_NO_NAME)
 		return (GSS_S_BAD_NAME);
 
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
+		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
+
 	args.pname = pname->handle;
 	args.mech = mech;
 
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_pname_to_uid_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_pname_to_uid_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_release_cred.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_release_cred.c
index 6c684967b997..cad36fb49b40 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_release_cred.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_release_cred.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -44,13 +46,21 @@ gss_release_cred(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_cred_id_t *cred_handle)
 	struct release_cred_res res;
 	struct release_cred_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
+	CLIENT *cl;
+
+	*minor_status = 0;
 
 	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 
 	if (*cred_handle) {
 		args.cred = (*cred_handle)->handle;
-		stat = gssd_release_cred_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+
+		cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+		if (cl == NULL)
+			return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
+		stat = gssd_release_cred_1(&args, &res, cl);
+		CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 		if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 			*minor_status = stat;
 			return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -63,7 +73,5 @@ gss_release_cred(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_cred_id_t *cred_handle)
 		return (res.major_status);
 	}
 
-	*minor_status = 0;
-
 	return (GSS_S_COMPLETE);
 }
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_release_name.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_release_name.c
index 6f27e7484bb5..abda8784a8d7 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_release_name.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_release_name.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -45,6 +47,9 @@ gss_release_name(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_name_t *input_name)
 	struct release_name_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
 	gss_name_t name;
+	CLIENT *cl;
+
+	*minor_status = 0;
 
 	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -53,7 +58,11 @@ gss_release_name(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_name_t *input_name)
 		name = *input_name;
 		args.input_name = name->handle;
 	
-		stat = gssd_release_name_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+		cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+		if (cl == NULL)
+			return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
+		stat = gssd_release_name_1(&args, &res, cl);
+		CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 		if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 			*minor_status = stat;
 			return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
@@ -68,7 +77,5 @@ gss_release_name(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_name_t *input_name)
 		}
 	}
 
-	*minor_status = 0;
-
 	return (GSS_S_COMPLETE);
 }
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gss_set_cred_option.c b/sys/kgssapi/gss_set_cred_option.c
index ce781af14864..d3b9a46daade 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gss_set_cred_option.c
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gss_set_cred_option.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ __FBSDID("$FreeBSD$");
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/kernel.h>
 #include <sys/kobj.h>
+#include <sys/lock.h>
 #include <sys/malloc.h>
+#include <sys/mutex.h>
 
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi.h>
 #include <kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h>
@@ -47,10 +49,12 @@ gss_set_cred_option(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	struct set_cred_option_res res;
 	struct set_cred_option_args args;
 	enum clnt_stat stat;
+	CLIENT *cl;
 
 	*minor_status = 0;
 
-	if (!kgss_gssd_handle)
+	cl = kgss_gssd_client();
+	if (cl == NULL)
 		return (GSS_S_FAILURE);
 
 	if (cred)
@@ -61,7 +65,8 @@ gss_set_cred_option(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	args.option_value = *option_value;
 
 	bzero(&res, sizeof(res));
-	stat = gssd_set_cred_option_1(&args, &res, kgss_gssd_handle);
+	stat = gssd_set_cred_option_1(&args, &res, cl);
+	CLNT_RELEASE(cl);
 
 	if (stat != RPC_SUCCESS) {
 		*minor_status = stat;
diff --git a/sys/kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h b/sys/kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h
index 629b80b3d9fa..c14325543a05 100644
--- a/sys/kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h
+++ b/sys/kgssapi/gssapi_impl.h
@@ -53,8 +53,10 @@ struct kgss_mech {
 LIST_HEAD(kgss_mech_list, kgss_mech);
 
 extern CLIENT *kgss_gssd_handle;
+extern struct mtx kgss_gssd_lock;
 extern struct kgss_mech_list kgss_mechs;
 
+CLIENT *kgss_gssd_client(void);
 int kgss_oid_equal(const gss_OID oid1, const gss_OID oid2);
 extern void kgss_install_mech(gss_OID mech_type, const char *name,
     struct kobj_class *cls);