diff --git a/common/sysutils.c b/common/sysutils.c
index 73690a760..745b762ba 100644
--- a/common/sysutils.c
+++ b/common/sysutils.c
@@ -1931,3 +1931,22 @@ gnupg_fd_valid (int fd)
   close (d);
   return 1;
 }
+
+
+/* Open a stream from FD (a file descriptor on POSIX, a system
+   handle on Windows), non-closed.  */
+estream_t
+open_stream_nc (gnupg_fd_t fd, const char *mode)
+{
+  es_syshd_t syshd;
+
+#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
+  syshd.type = ES_SYSHD_HANDLE;
+  syshd.u.handle = fd;
+#else
+  syshd.type = ES_SYSHD_FD;
+  syshd.u.fd = fd;
+#endif
+
+  return es_sysopen_nc (&syshd, mode);
+}
diff --git a/common/sysutils.h b/common/sysutils.h
index 50e59175f..8cc303b61 100644
--- a/common/sysutils.h
+++ b/common/sysutils.h
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ gpg_error_t gnupg_inotify_watch_delete_self (int *r_fd, const char *fname);
 gpg_error_t gnupg_inotify_watch_socket (int *r_fd, const char *socket_name);
 int gnupg_inotify_has_name (int fd, const char *name);
 
+estream_t open_stream_nc (gnupg_fd_t fd, const char *mode);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
 int gnupg_w32_set_errno (int ec);
diff --git a/g10/decrypt.c b/g10/decrypt.c
index e000ac478..64ba0b7f1 100644
--- a/g10/decrypt.c
+++ b/g10/decrypt.c
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ decrypt_message_fd (ctrl_t ctrl, gnupg_fd_t input_fd,
   IOBUF fp;
   armor_filter_context_t *afx = NULL;
   progress_filter_context_t *pfx;
-  es_syshd_t syshd;
 
   if (opt.outfp)
     return gpg_error (GPG_ERR_BUG);
@@ -140,14 +139,7 @@ decrypt_message_fd (ctrl_t ctrl, gnupg_fd_t input_fd,
       return err;
     }
 
-#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
-  syshd.type = ES_SYSHD_HANDLE;
-  syshd.u.handle = output_fd;
-#else
-  syshd.type = ES_SYSHD_FD;
-  syshd.u.fd = output_fd;
-#endif
-  opt.outfp = es_sysopen_nc (&syshd, "w");
+  opt.outfp = open_stream_nc (output_fd, "w");
   if (!opt.outfp)
     {
       char xname[64];
diff --git a/g10/server.c b/g10/server.c
index 8ddfbba8e..24e525e7f 100644
--- a/g10/server.c
+++ b/g10/server.c
@@ -388,16 +388,7 @@ cmd_verify (assuan_context_t ctx, char *line)
 
   if (out_fd != GNUPG_INVALID_FD)
     {
-      es_syshd_t syshd;
-
-#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
-      syshd.type = ES_SYSHD_HANDLE;
-      syshd.u.handle = out_fd;
-#else
-      syshd.type = ES_SYSHD_FD;
-      syshd.u.fd = out_fd;
-#endif
-      out_fp = es_sysopen_nc (&syshd, "w");
+      out_fp = open_stream_nc (fd, "w");
       if (!out_fp)
         return set_error (gpg_err_code_from_syserror (), "fdopen() failed");
     }
diff --git a/kbx/kbxserver.c b/kbx/kbxserver.c
index cc122fad5..d50b9dfdf 100644
--- a/kbx/kbxserver.c
+++ b/kbx/kbxserver.c
@@ -144,16 +144,7 @@ prepare_outstream (ctrl_t ctrl)
     return 0;  /* No Output command active.  */
   else
     {
-      es_syshd_t syshd;
-
-#ifdef HAVE_W32_SYSTEM
-      syshd.type = ES_SYSHD_HANDLE;
-      syshd.u.handle = fd;
-#else
-      syshd.type = ES_SYSHD_FD;
-      syshd.u.fd = fd;
-#endif
-      out_fp = es_sysopen_nc (&syshd, "w");
+      out_fp = open_stream_nc (fd, "w");
       if (!out_fp)
         return gpg_err_code_from_syserror ();
     }