diff --git a/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-hsp-native.c b/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-hsp-native.c
index 316c2962c..4709d00d7 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-hsp-native.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-hsp-native.c
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ static int sco_acquire_cb(void *data, bool optional)
 	if (sock < 0)
 		goto fail;
 
+	t->fd = sock;
 	t->read_mtu = 48;
 	t->write_mtu = 48;
 
@@ -250,7 +251,9 @@ static int sco_acquire_cb(void *data, bool optional)
 			t->write_mtu = sco_opt.mtu;
 		}
 	}
-	return sock;
+
+	return 0;
+
 fail:
 	return -1;
 }
@@ -259,8 +262,14 @@ static int sco_release_cb(void *data)
 {
 	struct spa_bt_transport *t = data;
 	struct spa_bt_backend *backend = t->backend;
-	spa_log_info(backend->log, NAME": Transport %s released", t->path);
-	/* device will close the SCO socket for us */
+
+	spa_log_info(backend->log, "Transport %s released", t->path);
+
+	/* Shutdown and close the socket */
+	shutdown(t->fd, SHUT_RDWR);
+	close(t->fd);
+	t->fd = -1;
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -661,4 +670,4 @@ struct spa_bt_backend *backend_hsp_native_new(struct spa_bt_monitor *monitor,
 	backend->conn = dbus_connection;
 
 	return backend;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-hsphfpd.c b/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-hsphfpd.c
index bf1c11398..3601f0824 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-hsphfpd.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-hsphfpd.c
@@ -921,6 +921,9 @@ static int hsphfpd_audio_acquire(void *data, bool optional)
 	DBusPendingCall *call;
 	DBusError err;
 
+	spa_log_debug(backend->log, NAME": transport %p: Acquire %s",
+			transport, transport->path);
+
 	if (backend->acquire_in_progress)
 		return -EINPROGRESS;
 
@@ -950,7 +953,7 @@ static int hsphfpd_audio_acquire(void *data, bool optional)
 	while (backend->acquire_in_progress && dbus_connection_read_write_dispatch(backend->conn, -1))
 		; // empty loop body
 
-	return transport->fd;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int hsphfpd_audio_release(void *data)
@@ -959,11 +962,6 @@ static int hsphfpd_audio_release(void *data)
 	struct spa_bt_backend *backend = transport->backend;
 	struct hsphfpd_transport_data *transport_data = transport->user_data;
 
-	if (transport->fd < 0) {
-		spa_log_info(backend->log, NAME": transport %s already released", transport->path);
-		return 0;
-	}
-
 	spa_log_debug(backend->log, NAME": transport %p: Release %s",
 			transport, transport->path);
 
diff --git a/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-ofono.c b/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-ofono.c
index 180bb0622..e6b62b186 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-ofono.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/bluez5/backend-ofono.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ static int ofono_audio_acquire(void *data, bool optional)
 			transport->path, transport->fd, transport->codec);
 
 	ofono_transport_get_mtu(backend, transport);
-	ret = transport->fd;
+	ret = 0;
 
 finish:
 	return ret;
@@ -243,11 +243,6 @@ static int ofono_audio_release(void *data)
 	struct spa_bt_transport *transport = data;
 	struct spa_bt_backend *backend = transport->backend;
 
-	if (transport->fd < 0) {
-		spa_log_info(backend->log, NAME": transport %s already released", transport->path);
-		return 0;
-	}
-
 	spa_log_debug(backend->log, NAME": transport %p: Release %s",
 			transport, transport->path);
 
diff --git a/spa/plugins/bluez5/bluez5-dbus.c b/spa/plugins/bluez5/bluez5-dbus.c
index cd332dca4..51dd4174b 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/bluez5/bluez5-dbus.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/bluez5/bluez5-dbus.c
@@ -686,6 +686,7 @@ struct spa_bt_transport *spa_bt_transport_create(struct spa_bt_monitor *monitor,
 	if (t == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
+	t->acquire_refcount = 0;
 	t->monitor = monitor;
 	t->path = path;
 	t->fd = -1;
@@ -721,6 +722,12 @@ void spa_bt_transport_free(struct spa_bt_transport *transport)
 
 	spa_bt_transport_destroy(transport);
 
+	if (transport->fd >= 0) {
+		shutdown(transport->fd, SHUT_RDWR);
+		close(transport->fd);
+		transport->fd = -1;
+	}
+
 	spa_list_remove(&transport->link);
 	if (transport->device) {
 		transport->device->connected_profiles &= ~transport->profile;
@@ -730,6 +737,50 @@ void spa_bt_transport_free(struct spa_bt_transport *transport)
 	free(transport);
 }
 
+int spa_bt_transport_acquire(struct spa_bt_transport *transport, bool optional)
+{
+	struct spa_bt_monitor *monitor = transport->monitor;
+	int res;
+
+	if (transport->acquire_refcount > 0) {
+		spa_log_debug(monitor->log, "transport %p: incref %s", transport, transport->path);
+		transport->acquire_refcount += 1;
+		return 0;
+	}
+	spa_assert(transport->acquire_refcount == 0);
+
+	res = spa_bt_transport_impl(transport, acquire, 0, optional);
+
+	if (res >= 0)
+		transport->acquire_refcount = 1;
+
+	return res;
+}
+
+int spa_bt_transport_release(struct spa_bt_transport *transport)
+{
+	struct spa_bt_monitor *monitor = transport->monitor;
+	int res;
+
+	if (transport->acquire_refcount > 1) {
+		spa_log_debug(monitor->log, "transport %p: decref %s", transport, transport->path);
+		transport->acquire_refcount -= 1;
+		return 0;
+	}
+	else if (transport->acquire_refcount == 0) {
+		spa_log_info(monitor->log, "transport %s already released", transport->path);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	spa_assert(transport->acquire_refcount == 1);
+
+	res = spa_bt_transport_impl(transport, release, 0);
+
+	if (res >= 0)
+		transport->acquire_refcount = 0;
+
+	return res;
+}
+
 static int transport_update_props(struct spa_bt_transport *transport,
 				  DBusMessageIter *props_iter,
 				  DBusMessageIter *invalidated_iter)
@@ -840,9 +891,6 @@ static int transport_acquire(void *data, bool optional)
 	int ret = 0;
 	const char *method = optional ? "TryAcquire" : "Acquire";
 
-	if (transport->fd >= 0)
-		return 0;
-
 	m = dbus_message_new_method_call(BLUEZ_SERVICE,
 					 transport->path,
 					 BLUEZ_MEDIA_TRANSPORT_INTERFACE,
@@ -900,10 +948,7 @@ static int transport_release(void *data)
 	DBusMessage *m, *r;
 	DBusError err;
 
-	if (transport->fd < 0)
-		return 0;
-
-	spa_log_debug(monitor->log, "transport %p: Release %s",
+	spa_log_debug(monitor->log, NAME": transport %p: Release %s",
 			transport, transport->path);
 
 	close(transport->fd);
diff --git a/spa/plugins/bluez5/defs.h b/spa/plugins/bluez5/defs.h
index d390c9a6c..1d6ab2480 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/bluez5/defs.h
+++ b/spa/plugins/bluez5/defs.h
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ struct spa_bt_transport {
 	void *configuration;
 	int configuration_len;
 
-	bool acquired;
+	int acquire_refcount;
 	int fd;
 	uint16_t read_mtu;
 	uint16_t write_mtu;
@@ -302,6 +302,9 @@ struct spa_bt_transport *spa_bt_transport_find_full(struct spa_bt_monitor *monit
                                                     bool (*callback) (struct spa_bt_transport *t, const void *data),
                                                     const void *data);
 
+int spa_bt_transport_acquire(struct spa_bt_transport *t, bool optional);
+int spa_bt_transport_release(struct spa_bt_transport *t);
+
 #define spa_bt_transport_emit(t,m,v,...)		spa_hook_list_call(&(t)->listener_list, \
 								struct spa_bt_transport_events,	\
 								m, v, ##__VA_ARGS__)
@@ -323,8 +326,6 @@ struct spa_bt_transport *spa_bt_transport_find_full(struct spa_bt_monitor *monit
 	res;						\
 })
 
-#define spa_bt_transport_acquire(t,o)	spa_bt_transport_impl(t, acquire, 0, o)
-#define spa_bt_transport_release(t)	spa_bt_transport_impl(t, release, 0)
 #define spa_bt_transport_destroy(t)	spa_bt_transport_impl(t, destroy, 0)
 
 static inline enum spa_bt_transport_state spa_bt_transport_state_from_string(const char *value)
diff --git a/spa/plugins/bluez5/sco-sink.c b/spa/plugins/bluez5/sco-sink.c
index 316bcff7f..b5fe5bf16 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/bluez5/sco-sink.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/bluez5/sco-sink.c
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@ struct impl {
 	/* Transport */
 	struct spa_bt_transport *transport;
 	struct spa_hook transport_listener;
-	int sock_fd;
 
 	/* Port */
 	struct port port;
@@ -381,7 +380,7 @@ static void flush_data(struct impl *this)
 		}
 
 next_write:
-		written = write(this->sock_fd, packet, this->transport->write_mtu);
+		written = write(this->transport->fd, packet, this->transport->write_mtu);
 		if (written <= 0) {
 			spa_log_debug(this->log, "failed to write data");
 			goto stop;
@@ -472,6 +471,7 @@ static int lcm(int a, int b) {
 static int do_start(struct impl *this)
 {
 	bool do_accept;
+	int res;
 
 	/* Dont do anything if the node has already started */
 	if (this->started)
@@ -484,9 +484,8 @@ static int do_start(struct impl *this)
 	do_accept = this->transport->profile & SPA_BT_PROFILE_HEADSET_AUDIO_GATEWAY;
 
 	/* acquire the socked fd (false -> connect | true -> accept) */
-	this->sock_fd = spa_bt_transport_acquire(this->transport, do_accept);
-	if (this->sock_fd < 0)
-		return -1;
+	if ((res = spa_bt_transport_acquire(this->transport, do_accept)) < 0)
+		return res;
 
 	/* Init mSBC if needed */
 	if (this->transport->codec == HFP_AUDIO_CODEC_MSBC) {
@@ -557,13 +556,8 @@ static int do_stop(struct impl *this)
 	}
 
 	if (this->transport) {
-		/* Release the transport */
+		/* Release the transport; it is responsible for closing the fd */
 		res = spa_bt_transport_release(this->transport);
-
-		/* Shutdown and close the socket */
-		shutdown(this->sock_fd, SHUT_RDWR);
-		close(this->sock_fd);
-		this->sock_fd = -1;
 	}
 
 	return res;
@@ -1141,7 +1135,6 @@ impl_init(const struct spa_handle_factory *factory,
 	}
 	spa_bt_transport_add_listener(this->transport,
 			&this->transport_listener, &transport_events, this);
-	this->sock_fd = -1;
 
 	this->timerfd = spa_system_timerfd_create(this->data_system,
 			CLOCK_MONOTONIC, SPA_FD_CLOEXEC | SPA_FD_NONBLOCK);
diff --git a/spa/plugins/bluez5/sco-source.c b/spa/plugins/bluez5/sco-source.c
index 2fa75cdff..932c205f8 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/bluez5/sco-source.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/bluez5/sco-source.c
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ struct impl {
 
 	struct spa_bt_transport *transport;
 	struct spa_hook transport_listener;
-	int sock_fd;
 
 	struct port port;
 
@@ -287,7 +286,7 @@ static int read_data(struct impl *this, uint8_t *data, uint32_t data_size)
 	int res = 0;
 
 again:
-	res = read(this->sock_fd, data, data_size);
+	res = read(this->transport->fd, data, data_size);
 	if (res <= 0) {
 		/* retry if interrupted */
 		if (errno == EINTR)
@@ -513,6 +512,7 @@ stop:
 static int do_start(struct impl *this)
 {
 	bool do_accept;
+	int res;
 
 	/* Dont do anything if the node has already started */
 	if (this->started)
@@ -525,9 +525,8 @@ static int do_start(struct impl *this)
 	do_accept = this->transport->profile & SPA_BT_PROFILE_HEADSET_AUDIO_GATEWAY;
 
 	/* acquire the socked fd (false -> connect | true -> accept) */
-	this->sock_fd = spa_bt_transport_acquire(this->transport, do_accept);
-	if (this->sock_fd < 0)
-		return -1;
+	if ((res = spa_bt_transport_acquire(this->transport, do_accept)) < 0)
+		return res;
 
 	/* Reset the buffers and sample count */
 	reset_buffers(&this->port);
@@ -543,7 +542,7 @@ static int do_start(struct impl *this)
 
 	/* Add the ready read callback */
 	this->source.data = this;
-	this->source.fd = this->sock_fd;
+	this->source.fd = this->transport->fd;
 	this->source.func = sco_on_ready_read;
 	this->source.mask = SPA_IO_IN;
 	this->source.rmask = 0;
@@ -584,13 +583,8 @@ static int do_stop(struct impl *this)
 	this->started = false;
 
 	if (this->transport) {
-		/* Release the transport */
+		/* Release the transport; it is responsible for closing the fd */
 		res = spa_bt_transport_release(this->transport);
-
-		/* Shutdown and close the socket */
-		shutdown(this->sock_fd, SHUT_RDWR);
-		close(this->sock_fd);
-		this->sock_fd = -1;
 	}
 
 	return res;
@@ -1197,7 +1191,6 @@ impl_init(const struct spa_handle_factory *factory,
 	}
 	spa_bt_transport_add_listener(this->transport,
 			&this->transport_listener, &transport_events, this);
-	this->sock_fd = -1;
 
 	return 0;
 }