diff --git a/toolbox/getevent.c b/toolbox/getevent.c
index e6def6b..39033ad 100644
--- a/toolbox/getevent.c
+++ b/toolbox/getevent.c
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@
     char idstr[80];
     struct input_id id;
 
-    fd = open(device, O_RDWR);
+    fd = open(device, O_RDONLY | O_CLOEXEC);
     if(fd < 0) {
         if(print_flags & PRINT_DEVICE_ERRORS)
             fprintf(stderr, "could not open %s, %s\n", device, strerror(errno));