diff --git a/src/jtag/drivers/remote_bitbang.c b/src/jtag/drivers/remote_bitbang.c
index 7517b68db..9812a7ee2 100644
--- a/src/jtag/drivers/remote_bitbang.c
+++ b/src/jtag/drivers/remote_bitbang.c
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ static int remote_bitbang_init(void)
 	if (remote_bitbang_fd < 0)
 		return remote_bitbang_fd;
 
-	remote_bitbang_file = fdopen(remote_bitbang_fd, "w");
+	remote_bitbang_file = fdopen(remote_bitbang_fd, "w+");
 	if (remote_bitbang_file == NULL) {
 		LOG_ERROR("fdopen: failed to open write stream");
 		close(remote_bitbang_fd);