diff --git a/src/hdaccess.c b/src/hdaccess.c
index 2a145719..74e4a5d2 100644
--- a/src/hdaccess.c
+++ b/src/hdaccess.c
@@ -1603,6 +1603,7 @@ disk_t *file_test_availability(const char *device, const int verbose, const arch
         {
           try_readonly=1;
           close(hd_h);
+	  hd_h=-1;
         }
       }
 #endif