diff --git a/io/channel-socket.c b/io/channel-socket.c
index de259f7eed..606ec97cf7 100644
--- a/io/channel-socket.c
+++ b/io/channel-socket.c
@@ -487,15 +487,15 @@ static ssize_t qio_channel_socket_readv(QIOChannel *ioc,
 
     memset(control, 0, CMSG_SPACE(sizeof(int) * SOCKET_MAX_FDS));
 
-#ifdef MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC
-    sflags |= MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC;
-#endif
-
     msg.msg_iov = (struct iovec *)iov;
     msg.msg_iovlen = niov;
     if (fds && nfds) {
         msg.msg_control = control;
         msg.msg_controllen = sizeof(control);
+#ifdef MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC
+        sflags |= MSG_CMSG_CLOEXEC;
+#endif
+
     }
 
  retry: