Index: sys/fs/devfs/devfs_vnops.c
===================================================================
--- sys/fs/devfs/devfs_vnops.c
+++ sys/fs/devfs/devfs_vnops.c
@@ -995,11 +995,17 @@
 		cdev = NULL;
 		DEVFS_DMP_HOLD(dmp);
 		sx_xunlock(&dmp->dm_lock);
-		sx_slock(&clone_drain_lock);
-		EVENTHANDLER_INVOKE(dev_clone,
-		    td->td_ucred, pname, strlen(pname), &cdev);
-		sx_sunlock(&clone_drain_lock);
-
+		/*
+		 * We don't want to invoke clone operations from mode changes,
+		 * for instance, so we only invoke dev_clone handlers if the
+		 * caller intends to open.
+		 */
+		if ((flags & ISOPEN) != 0) {
+			sx_slock(&clone_drain_lock);
+			EVENTHANDLER_INVOKE(dev_clone,
+			    td->td_ucred, pname, strlen(pname), &cdev);
+			sx_sunlock(&clone_drain_lock);
+		}
 		if (cdev == NULL)
 			sx_xlock(&dmp->dm_lock);
 		else if (devfs_populate_vp(dvp) != 0) {