diff --git a/usr.sbin/sndctl/sndctl.c b/usr.sbin/sndctl/sndctl.c
--- a/usr.sbin/sndctl/sndctl.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/sndctl/sndctl.c
@@ -982,17 +982,10 @@
 		argv++;
 	}
 
-	free_dev(dp);
-
-	if (show) {
-		/*
-		 * Re-read dev to reflect new state in case we changed some
-		 * property.
-		 */
-		dp = read_dev(path);
+	if (show)
 		print_dev(dp);
-		free_dev(dp);
-	}
+
+	free_dev(dp);
 
 	return (0);
 }