diff --git a/db-functions b/db-functions
index 8556a36088e6a00395c50d1938deb2dbb32d2936..84a0b09bae476112976029a9a9a1504f8b8d0ace 100644
--- a/db-functions
+++ b/db-functions
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ acquire_fd() {
 	local fd fd_handle
 
 	# store the resolved path
-	handle=$(realpath -- "${handle}")
+	handle=$(realpath -- "${handle}" 2>/dev/null)
 
 	# try to find open fd for handle
 	for fd in /dev/fd/*; do