diff --git a/sys/geom/eli/g_eli.c b/sys/geom/eli/g_eli.c
--- a/sys/geom/eli/g_eli.c
+++ b/sys/geom/eli/g_eli.c
@@ -1046,10 +1046,12 @@
 	bioq_init(&sc->sc_queue);
 	mtx_init(&sc->sc_queue_mtx, "geli:queue", NULL, MTX_DEF);
 	mtx_init(&sc->sc_ekeys_lock, "geli:ekeys", NULL, MTX_DEF);
+	g_eli_init_uma();
 
 	pp = NULL;
 	cp = g_new_consumer(gp);
 	cp->flags |= G_CF_DIRECT_SEND | G_CF_DIRECT_RECEIVE;
+
 	error = g_attach(cp, bpp);
 	if (error != 0) {
 		if (req != NULL) {
@@ -1092,7 +1094,6 @@
 	if (threads == 0)
 		threads = mp_ncpus;
 	sc->sc_cpubind = (mp_ncpus > 1 && threads == mp_ncpus);
-	g_eli_init_uma();
 	for (i = 0; i < threads; i++) {
 		if (g_eli_cpu_is_disabled(i)) {
 			G_ELI_DEBUG(1, "%s: CPU %u disabled, skipping.",
@@ -1164,6 +1165,7 @@
 	    sc->sc_crypto == G_ELI_CRYPTO_SW_ACCEL ? "accelerated software" :
 	    sc->sc_crypto == G_ELI_CRYPTO_SW ? "software" : "hardware");
 	return (gp);
+
 failed:
 	mtx_lock(&sc->sc_queue_mtx);
 	sc->sc_flags |= G_ELI_FLAG_DESTROY;
diff --git a/tests/sys/geom/class/eli/attach_test.sh b/tests/sys/geom/class/eli/attach_test.sh
--- a/tests/sys/geom/class/eli/attach_test.sh
+++ b/tests/sys/geom/class/eli/attach_test.sh
@@ -39,6 +39,34 @@
 	geli_test_cleanup
 }
 
+atf_test_case atach_multiple_fails cleanup
+attach_multiple_fails_head()
+{
+	atf_set "descr" "test multiple failed attach of geli provider"
+	atf_set "require.user" "root"
+}
+attach_multiple_fails_body()
+{
+	geli_test_setup
+
+	sectors=1000
+	attach_md md -t malloc -s `expr $sectors + 1`
+	atf_check dd if=/dev/random of=keyfile bs=512 count=16 status=none
+
+	atf_check geli init -B none -P -K keyfile ${md}
+	atf_check geli attach -d -p -k keyfile ${md}
+
+	for i in $(jot 100); do
+		atf_check -s not-exit:0 -e ignore -- geli attach -d -p -k keyfile ${md}
+	done
+	atf_check -o ignore -- newfs ${md}.eli
+}
+attach_multiple_fails_cleanup()
+{
+	geli_test_cleanup
+}
+
+
 atf_test_case attach_r cleanup
 attach_r_head()
 {
@@ -125,5 +153,6 @@
 	atf_add_test_case attach_d
 	atf_add_test_case attach_r
 	atf_add_test_case attach_multiple
+	atf_add_test_case attach_multiple_fails
 	atf_add_test_case nokey
 }