diff --git a/src/pulsecore/core-util.c b/src/pulsecore/core-util.c
index 5d2bae92f..3349d0572 100644
--- a/src/pulsecore/core-util.c
+++ b/src/pulsecore/core-util.c
@@ -2851,11 +2851,20 @@ int pa_close_allv(const int except_fds[]) {
 
 #endif
 
+#if defined(__FreeBSD__)
+    maxfd = 0;
+    for (int i = 0; except_fds[i] >= 0; i++)
+        if (except_fds[i] > maxfd)
+            maxfd = except_fds[i];
+    maxfd++;
+    closefrom(maxfd);
+#else
     if (getrlimit(RLIMIT_NOFILE, &rl) >= 0)
         maxfd = (int) rl.rlim_max;
     else
         maxfd = sysconf(_SC_OPEN_MAX);
 
+#endif
     for (fd = 3; fd < maxfd; fd++) {
         int i;
         bool found;