diff --git a/lib/libkvm/kvm.c b/lib/libkvm/kvm.c
index f0a635289b7..08020783b3c 100644
--- a/lib/libkvm/kvm.c
+++ b/lib/libkvm/kvm.c
@@ -180,6 +180,10 @@ _kvm_open(kd, uf, mf, flag, errout)
 		_kvm_syserr(kd, kd->program, "%s", mf);
 		goto failed;
 	}
+	if (fcntl(kd->pmfd, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC) < 0) {
+		_kvm_syserr(kd, kd->program, "%s", mf);
+		goto failed;
+	}
 	if (S_ISCHR(st.st_mode)) {
 		/*
 		 * If this is a character special device, then check that
@@ -198,6 +202,10 @@ _kvm_open(kd, uf, mf, flag, errout)
 				_kvm_syserr(kd, kd->program, "%s", _PATH_KMEM);
 				goto failed;
 			}
+			if (fcntl(kd->vmfd, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC) < 0) {
+				_kvm_syserr(kd, kd->program, "%s", _PATH_KMEM);
+				goto failed;
+			}
 		}
 	} else {
 		/*
@@ -209,6 +217,10 @@ _kvm_open(kd, uf, mf, flag, errout)
 			_kvm_syserr(kd, kd->program, "%s", uf);
 			goto failed;
 		}
+		if (fcntl(kd->nlfd, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC) < 0) {
+			_kvm_syserr(kd, kd->program, "%s", uf);
+			goto failed;
+		}
 		if (_kvm_initvtop(kd) < 0)
 			goto failed;
 	}