diff --git a/src/util/virresctrl.c b/src/util/virresctrl.c
index 684d2ce398..e9bcdb44b1 100644
--- a/src/util/virresctrl.c
+++ b/src/util/virresctrl.c
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ VIR_ONCE_GLOBAL_INIT(virResctrl);
 static int
 virResctrlLockWrite(void)
 {
-    int fd = open(SYSFS_RESCTRL_PATH, O_DIRECTORY | O_CLOEXEC);
+    int fd = open(SYSFS_RESCTRL_PATH, O_RDWR | O_CLOEXEC);
 
     if (fd < 0) {
         virReportSystemError(errno, "%s", _("Cannot open resctrl"));