diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal.c b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal.c
index 508cbc46fd..b8152a75cd 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal.c
@@ -556,9 +556,11 @@ int rte_eal_has_hugepages(void)
 int
 rte_eal_iopl_init(void)
 {
-	static int fd;
+	static int fd = -1;
+
+	if (fd < 0)
+		fd = open("/dev/io", O_RDWR);
 
-	fd = open("/dev/io", O_RDWR);
 	if (fd < 0)
 		return -1;
 	/* keep fd open for iopl */