diff --git a/ip/iptuntap.c b/ip/iptuntap.c
index 2a8aa7fc..588926cf 100644
--- a/ip/iptuntap.c
+++ b/ip/iptuntap.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static void usage(void)
 
 static int tap_add_ioctl(struct ifreq *ifr, uid_t uid, gid_t gid)
 {
-	int fd = open(TUNDEV, O_RDWR);
+	int fd;
 	int ret = -1;
 
 #ifdef IFF_TUN_EXCL