diff --git a/kernel/register.cc b/kernel/register.cc
index cb8ad473c..5d882ab43 100644
--- a/kernel/register.cc
+++ b/kernel/register.cc
@@ -400,7 +400,8 @@ void Backend::backend_call(RTLIL::Design *design, FILE *f, std::string filename,
 	if (f != NULL) {
 		backend_register[args[0]]->execute(f, filename, args, design);
 	} else if (filename == "-") {
-		backend_register[args[0]]->execute(stdout, "<stdout>", args, design);
+		FILE *f_stdout = stdout; // workaround for OpenBSD 'stdout' implementation
+		backend_register[args[0]]->execute(f_stdout, "<stdout>", args, design);
 	} else {
 		if (!filename.empty())
 			args.push_back(filename);