diff --git a/include/ircd/fs/fd.h b/include/ircd/fs/fd.h
index 07d33bfa0..b5ca78a4c 100644
--- a/include/ircd/fs/fd.h
+++ b/include/ircd/fs/fd.h
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ struct ircd::fs::fd
 	operator bool() const;
 	bool operator!() const;
 
+	int release() noexcept;
+
 	explicit fd(const int &);
 	fd(const string_view &path, const opts &);
 	fd(const string_view &path);
diff --git a/ircd/fs.cc b/ircd/fs.cc
index 1ae0a6a36..331e41b24 100644
--- a/ircd/fs.cc
+++ b/ircd/fs.cc
@@ -1621,6 +1621,15 @@ noexcept(false)
 	syscall(::close, fdno);
 }
 
+int
+ircd::fs::fd::release()
+noexcept
+{
+	const int fdno(this->fdno);
+	this->fdno = -1;
+	return fdno;
+}
+
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //
 // fs/device.h