diff --git a/src/unix/stream.c b/src/unix/stream.c
index e721aa1d..adb98c38 100644
--- a/src/unix/stream.c
+++ b/src/unix/stream.c
@@ -88,7 +88,12 @@ void uv__stream_init(uv_loop_t* loop,
   stream->write_queue_size = 0;
 
   if (loop->emfile_fd == -1) {
-    err = uv__open_cloexec("/", O_RDONLY);
+    err = uv__open_cloexec("/dev/null", O_RDONLY);
+    if (err < 0)
+        /* In the rare case that "/dev/null" isn't mounted open "/"
+         * instead.
+         */
+        err = uv__open_cloexec("/", O_RDONLY);
     if (err >= 0)
       loop->emfile_fd = err;
   }