diff --git a/lib/libufs/sblock.c b/lib/libufs/sblock.c
index 5242a6db88db..29ff258b6ebf 100644
--- a/lib/libufs/sblock.c
+++ b/lib/libufs/sblock.c
@@ -96,9 +96,16 @@ int
 sbwrite(struct uufsd *disk, int all)
 {
 	struct fs *fs;
+	int rv;
 
 	ERROR(disk, NULL);
 
+	rv = ufs_disk_write(disk);
+	if (rv == -1) {
+		ERROR(disk, "failed to open disk for writing");
+		return (-1);
+	}
+
 	fs = &disk->d_fs;
 	if ((errno = sbput(disk->d_fd, fs, all ? fs->fs_ncg : 0)) != 0) {
 		switch (errno) {