diff --git a/bin/sh/eval.c b/bin/sh/eval.c
index a3c8fcd2e1e6..701f018fda8b 100644
--- a/bin/sh/eval.c
+++ b/bin/sh/eval.c
@@ -499,7 +499,8 @@ evalpipe(n)
 				close(prevfd);
 			}
 			if (pip[1] >= 0) {
-				close(pip[0]);
+				if (!prevfd > 0)
+					close(pip[0]);
 				if (pip[1] != 1) {
 					close(1);
 					copyfd(pip[1], 1);