diff --git a/tools/power/x86/intel-speed-select/isst-daemon.c b/tools/power/x86/intel-speed-select/isst-daemon.c
index 0699137c0901..4ad6a64f1545 100644
--- a/tools/power/x86/intel-speed-select/isst-daemon.c
+++ b/tools/power/x86/intel-speed-select/isst-daemon.c
@@ -174,6 +174,8 @@ static void daemonize(char *rundir, char *pidfile)
 		close(i);
 
 	i = open("/dev/null", O_RDWR);
+	if (i < 0)
+		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 	ret = dup(i);
 	if (ret == -1)
 		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);