diff --git a/target/linux/generic-2.6/files/drivers/gpio/gpio_dev.c b/target/linux/generic-2.6/files/drivers/gpio/gpio_dev.c
index 690a3fb8c58c2b28889f45b03dd5831814e42386..48ef76f8a962ac7afef99244960a4a5b6309c5bc 100644
--- a/target/linux/generic-2.6/files/drivers/gpio/gpio_dev.c
+++ b/target/linux/generic-2.6/files/drivers/gpio/gpio_dev.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <asm/uaccess.h>
 #include <asm/io.h>
 #include <asm/gpio.h>
+#include <asm/atomic.h>
 #include <linux/init.h>
 #include <linux/genhd.h>
 #include <linux/device.h>
@@ -35,10 +36,12 @@
 #define DEVNAME		"gpio"
 
 static int dev_major;
-static int gpio_is_open = 0;
-unsigned int gpio_access_mask = 0;
+static unsigned int gpio_access_mask;
 static struct class *gpio_class;
 
+/* Counter is 1, if the device is not opened and zero (or less) if opened. */
+static atomic_t gpio_open_cnt = ATOMIC_INIT(1);
+
 static int
 gpio_ioctl(struct inode * inode, struct file * file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 {
@@ -94,15 +97,18 @@ gpio_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (gpio_is_open)
-	{
+	/* FIXME: We should really allow multiple applications to open the device
+	 *        at the same time, as long as the apps access different IO pins.
+	 *        The generic gpio-registration functions can be used for that.
+	 *        Two new IOCTLs have to be introduced for that. Need to check userspace
+	 *        compatibility first. --mb */
+	if (!atomic_dec_and_test(&gpio_open_cnt)) {
+		atomic_inc(&gpio_open_cnt);
 		printk(KERN_ERR DRVNAME ": Device with minor ID %d already in use\n", dev_minor);
 		result = -EBUSY;
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	gpio_is_open = 1;
-
 out:
 	return result;
 }
@@ -110,7 +116,8 @@ out:
 static int
 gpio_close(struct inode * inode, struct file * file)
 {
-	gpio_is_open = 0;
+	smp_mb__before_atomic_inc();
+	atomic_inc(&gpio_open_cnt);
 
 	return 0;
 }