diff --git a/stand/common/dev_net.c b/stand/common/dev_net.c
index c7bea2af182..d461f747ada 100644
--- a/stand/common/dev_net.c
+++ b/stand/common/dev_net.c
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ net_open(struct open_file *f, ...)
 
 	}
 	netdev_opens++;
+	f->f_devdata = &netdev_sock;
 	return (error);
 }
 
@@ -201,6 +202,9 @@ net_close(struct open_file *f)
 	if (debug)
 		printf("net_close: opens=%d\n", netdev_opens);
 #endif
+
+	f->f_devdata = NULL;
+
 	return (0);
 }