diff --git a/src/mkfs.fat.c b/src/mkfs.fat.c
index 91eb5d8..7165dce 100644
--- a/src/mkfs.fat.c
+++ b/src/mkfs.fat.c
@@ -1860,7 +1860,17 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     if (!create) {
 	check_mount(device_name);	/* Is the device already mounted? */
-	dev = open(device_name, O_EXCL | O_RDWR);	/* Is it a suitable device to build the FS on? */
+
+	/* skip calling open() if fd path is provided */
+	int fd = -1;
+	int len = 0;
+	if (sscanf(device_name, "/dev/fd/%u%n", &fd, &len) == 1 && len == strlen(device_name)) {
+		dev = fd;
+		printf("skipping open and using provided fd: %d\n", dev);
+	}
+	if (dev == -1) {
+		dev = open(device_name, O_EXCL | O_RDWR);	/* Is it a suitable device to build the FS on? */
+	}
 	if (dev < 0) {
 	    fprintf(stderr, "%s: unable to open %s: %s\n", program_name,
 		    device_name, strerror(errno));