diff --git a/lib/device/dev-io.c b/lib/device/dev-io.c
index f8b24bfcd..9bf6d2e14 100644
--- a/lib/device/dev-io.c
+++ b/lib/device/dev-io.c
@@ -513,6 +513,8 @@ int dev_open_flags(struct device *dev, int flags, int direct, int quiet)
 			log_sys_debug("open", name);
 		else
 			log_sys_error("open", name);
+
+		dev->flags |= DEV_OPEN_FAILURE;
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -556,6 +558,7 @@ int dev_open_flags(struct device *dev, int flags, int direct, int quiet)
 		       dev->flags & DEV_OPENED_EXCL ? " O_EXCL" : "",
 		       dev->flags & DEV_O_DIRECT ? " O_DIRECT" : "");
 
+	dev->flags &= ~DEV_OPEN_FAILURE;
 	return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/device/device.h b/lib/device/device.h
index 6b01fb6e7..fc5a5b992 100644
--- a/lib/device/device.h
+++ b/lib/device/device.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #define DEV_OPENED_EXCL		0x00000010	/* Opened EXCL */
 #define DEV_O_DIRECT		0x00000020	/* Use O_DIRECT */
 #define DEV_O_DIRECT_TESTED	0x00000040	/* DEV_O_DIRECT is reliable */
+#define DEV_OPEN_FAILURE	0x00000080	/* Has last open failed? */
 
 /*
  * Support for external device info.