diff --git a/channels/chan_dahdi.c b/channels/chan_dahdi.c
index 620fc3ba71d3bc0a136de446d9bf35e768b42404..9b37500fab58cb64c0e9a3c5cc75eeb31786ab17 100644
--- a/channels/chan_dahdi.c
+++ b/channels/chan_dahdi.c
@@ -12543,7 +12543,8 @@ static struct dahdi_pvt *mkintf(int channel, const struct dahdi_chan_conf *conf,
 				snprintf(fn, sizeof(fn), "%d", channel);
 				/* Open non-blocking */
 				tmp->subs[SUB_REAL].dfd = dahdi_open(fn);
-				while (tmp->subs[SUB_REAL].dfd < 0 && reloading == 2 && count < 1000) { /* the kernel may not call dahdi_release fast enough for the open flagbit to be cleared in time */
+				/* Retry open on restarts, but don't keep retrying if the channel doesn't exist (e.g. not configured) */
+				while (tmp->subs[SUB_REAL].dfd < 0 && reloading == 2 && count < 1000 && errno != ENXIO) { /* the kernel may not call dahdi_release fast enough for the open flagbit to be cleared in time */
 					usleep(1);
 					tmp->subs[SUB_REAL].dfd = dahdi_open(fn);
 					count++;