diff --git a/bmc/firmware_handler.cpp b/bmc/firmware_handler.cpp
index b995671..9b35e5f 100644
--- a/bmc/firmware_handler.cpp
+++ b/bmc/firmware_handler.cpp
@@ -68,16 +68,8 @@
         return nullptr;
     }
 
-    std::uint16_t bitmask = 0;
-    for (const auto& item : transports)
-    {
-        /* TODO: can use std::accumulate() unless I'm mistaken. :D */
-        bitmask |= item.bitmask;
-    }
-
-    return std::make_unique<FirmwareBlobHandler>(std::move(firmwares), blobs,
-                                                 transports, bitmask,
-                                                 std::move(actionPacks));
+    return std::make_unique<FirmwareBlobHandler>(
+        std::move(firmwares), blobs, transports, std::move(actionPacks));
 }
 
 /* Check if the path is in our supported list (or active list). */
@@ -146,12 +138,13 @@
     }
 
     /* They are requesting information about the generic blob_id. */
-    meta->blobState = bitmask;
-    meta->size = 0;
 
-    /* The generic blob_ids state is only the bits related to the transport
-     * mechanisms.
+    /* Older host tools expect the blobState to contain a bitmask of available
+     * transport backends, so report that we support all of them in order to
+     * preserve backwards compatibility.
      */
+    meta->blobState = transportMask;
+    meta->size = 0;
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -424,26 +417,19 @@
      * layout flash update or a UBI tarball.
      */
 
-    /* Check the flags for the transport mechanism: if none match we don't
-     * support what they request.
-     */
-    if ((flags & bitmask) == 0)
-    {
-        return false;
-    }
+    std::uint16_t transportFlag = flags & transportMask;
 
     /* How are they expecting to copy this data? */
-    auto d = std::find_if(
-        transports.begin(), transports.end(),
-        [&flags](const auto& iter) { return (iter.bitmask & flags); });
+    auto d = std::find_if(transports.begin(), transports.end(),
+                          [&transportFlag](const auto& iter) {
+                              return (iter.bitmask == transportFlag);
+                          });
     if (d == transports.end())
     {
         return false;
     }
 
-    /* We found the transport handler they requested, no surprise since
-     * above we verify they selected at least one we wanted.
-     */
+    /* We found the transport handler they requested */
 
     /* Elsewhere I do this check by checking "if ::ipmi" because that's the
      * only non-external data pathway -- but this is just a more generic
diff --git a/bmc/firmware_handler.hpp b/bmc/firmware_handler.hpp
index 3a4b4be..6275843 100644
--- a/bmc/firmware_handler.hpp
+++ b/bmc/firmware_handler.hpp
@@ -117,19 +117,18 @@
      * @param[in] firmwares - list of firmware types and their handlers
      * @param[in] blobs - list of blobs_ids to support
      * @param[in] transports - list of transport types and their handlers
-     * @param[in] bitmask - bitmask of transports to support
      * @param[in] verification - pointer to object for triggering verification
      * @param[in] update - point to object for triggering the update
      */
     FirmwareBlobHandler(std::vector<HandlerPack>&& firmwares,
                         const std::vector<std::string>& blobs,
                         const std::vector<DataHandlerPack>& transports,
-                        std::uint16_t bitmask, ActionMap&& actionPacks) :
+                        ActionMap&& actionPacks) :
         handlers(std::move(firmwares)),
-        blobIDs(blobs), transports(transports), bitmask(bitmask),
-        activeImage(activeImageBlobId), activeHash(activeHashBlobId),
-        verifyImage(verifyBlobId), updateImage(updateBlobId), lookup(),
-        state(UpdateState::notYetStarted), actionPacks(std::move(actionPacks))
+        blobIDs(blobs), transports(transports), activeImage(activeImageBlobId),
+        activeHash(activeHashBlobId), verifyImage(verifyBlobId),
+        updateImage(updateBlobId), lookup(), state(UpdateState::notYetStarted),
+        actionPacks(std::move(actionPacks))
     {
     }
     ~FirmwareBlobHandler() = default;
@@ -227,9 +226,6 @@
     /** List of handlers by transport type. */
     std::vector<DataHandlerPack> transports;
 
-    /** The bits set indicate what transport mechanisms are supported. */
-    std::uint16_t bitmask;
-
     /** Active image session. */
     Session activeImage;
 
@@ -260,6 +256,11 @@
     ActionStatus lastVerificationStatus = ActionStatus::unknown;
 
     ActionStatus lastUpdateStatus = ActionStatus::unknown;
+
+    /** Portion of "flags" argument to open() which specifies the desired
+     *  transport type
+     */
+    static constexpr std::uint16_t transportMask = 0xff00;
 };
 
 } // namespace ipmi_flash
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_stat_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_stat_unittest.cpp
index 6e97cc8..4eb2e99 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_stat_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_stat_unittest.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@
 namespace
 {
 
-TEST(FirmwareHandlerStatTest, StatOnInactiveBlobIDReturnsTransport)
+/* This test ensures the stat() method preserves compatibility with older host
+ * tools by reporting that all transports are supported. */
+TEST(FirmwareHandlerStatTest, StatOnInactiveBlobIDReturnsAllTransports)
 {
     /* Test that the metadata information returned matches expectations for this
      * case.
@@ -38,7 +40,8 @@
 
     blobs::BlobMeta meta;
     EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat("asdf", &meta));
-    EXPECT_EQ(FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi, meta.blobState);
+    /* All transport flags are set */
+    EXPECT_EQ(0xff00, meta.blobState);
 }
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_state_notyetstarted_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_state_notyetstarted_unittest.cpp
index 8aa811f..2a100bd 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_state_notyetstarted_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_state_notyetstarted_unittest.cpp
@@ -73,18 +73,15 @@
 TEST_F(FirmwareHandlerNotYetStartedTest, StatEachBlobIdVerifyResults)
 {
     /* In this original state, calling stat() on the blob ids will return the
-     * transported supported.
+     * idle status
      */
-    blobs::BlobMeta expected;
-    expected.blobState = FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
-    expected.size = 0;
 
     auto blobs = handler->getBlobIds();
     for (const auto& blob : blobs)
     {
         blobs::BlobMeta meta = {};
         EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat(blob, &meta));
-        EXPECT_EQ(expected, meta);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedIdleMeta, meta);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatecompleted_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatecompleted_unittest.cpp
index fd7f583..320d09e 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatecompleted_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatecompleted_unittest.cpp
@@ -122,10 +122,6 @@
 {
     getToUpdateCompleted(ActionStatus::success);
 
-    blobs::BlobMeta expected;
-    expected.blobState = FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
-    expected.size = 0;
-
     std::vector<std::string> testBlobs = {staticLayoutBlobId, hashBlobId};
     for (const auto& blob : testBlobs)
     {
@@ -133,7 +129,7 @@
 
         blobs::BlobMeta meta = {};
         EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat(blob, &meta));
-        EXPECT_EQ(expected, meta);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedIdleMeta, meta);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatepending_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatepending_unittest.cpp
index 6f5162f..d757b3c 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatepending_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatepending_unittest.cpp
@@ -163,17 +163,13 @@
 {
     getToUpdatePending();
 
-    blobs::BlobMeta expected;
-    expected.blobState = FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
-    expected.size = 0;
-
     for (const auto& blob : startingBlobs)
     {
         ASSERT_TRUE(handler->canHandleBlob(blob));
 
         blobs::BlobMeta meta = {};
         EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat(blob, &meta));
-        EXPECT_EQ(expected, meta);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedIdleMeta, meta);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatestarted_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatestarted_unittest.cpp
index 2e4f020..086dcfa 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatestarted_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_state_updatestarted_unittest.cpp
@@ -113,10 +113,6 @@
 {
     getToUpdateStarted();
 
-    blobs::BlobMeta expected;
-    expected.blobState = FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
-    expected.size = 0;
-
     std::vector<std::string> testBlobs = {staticLayoutBlobId, hashBlobId};
     for (const auto& blob : testBlobs)
     {
@@ -124,7 +120,7 @@
 
         blobs::BlobMeta meta = {};
         EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat(blob, &meta));
-        EXPECT_EQ(expected, meta);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedIdleMeta, meta);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_state_uploadinprogress_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_state_uploadinprogress_unittest.cpp
index 72da8bb..366435b 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_state_uploadinprogress_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_state_uploadinprogress_unittest.cpp
@@ -95,10 +95,6 @@
     /* Calling stat() on the normal blobs (not the active) ones will work and
      * return the same information as in the notYetStarted state.
      */
-    blobs::BlobMeta expected;
-    expected.blobState = FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
-    expected.size = 0;
-
     openToInProgress(staticLayoutBlobId);
 
     std::vector<std::string> testBlobs = {staticLayoutBlobId, hashBlobId};
@@ -106,7 +102,7 @@
     {
         blobs::BlobMeta meta = {};
         EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat(blob, &meta));
-        EXPECT_EQ(expected, meta);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedIdleMeta, meta);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationcompleted_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationcompleted_unittest.cpp
index 85f1895..0c6bae7 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationcompleted_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationcompleted_unittest.cpp
@@ -141,10 +141,6 @@
 {
     getToVerificationCompleted(ActionStatus::success);
 
-    blobs::BlobMeta expected;
-    expected.blobState = FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
-    expected.size = 0;
-
     std::vector<std::string> testBlobs = {staticLayoutBlobId, hashBlobId};
     for (const auto& blob : testBlobs)
     {
@@ -152,7 +148,7 @@
 
         blobs::BlobMeta meta = {};
         EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat(blob, &meta));
-        EXPECT_EQ(expected, meta);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedIdleMeta, meta);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationpending_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationpending_unittest.cpp
index 92d5c6b..c9b8e92 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationpending_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationpending_unittest.cpp
@@ -174,17 +174,13 @@
 {
     getToVerificationPending(staticLayoutBlobId);
 
-    blobs::BlobMeta expected;
-    expected.blobState = FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
-    expected.size = 0;
-
     std::vector<std::string> testBlobs = {staticLayoutBlobId, hashBlobId};
     for (const auto& blob : testBlobs)
     {
         ASSERT_TRUE(handler->canHandleBlob(blob));
         blobs::BlobMeta meta = {};
         EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat(blob, &meta));
-        EXPECT_EQ(expected, meta);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedIdleMeta, meta);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationstarted_unittest.cpp b/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationstarted_unittest.cpp
index 8c0d476..a974c2b 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationstarted_unittest.cpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_state_verificationstarted_unittest.cpp
@@ -194,10 +194,6 @@
 {
     getToVerificationStarted(staticLayoutBlobId);
 
-    blobs::BlobMeta expected;
-    expected.blobState = FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
-    expected.size = 0;
-
     std::vector<std::string> testBlobs = {staticLayoutBlobId, hashBlobId};
     for (const auto& blob : testBlobs)
     {
@@ -205,7 +201,7 @@
 
         blobs::BlobMeta meta = {};
         EXPECT_TRUE(handler->stat(blob, &meta));
-        EXPECT_EQ(expected, meta);
+        EXPECT_EQ(expectedIdleMeta, meta);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/test/firmware_unittest.hpp b/bmc/test/firmware_unittest.hpp
index 6bf515d..3d7fa4e 100644
--- a/bmc/test/firmware_unittest.hpp
+++ b/bmc/test/firmware_unittest.hpp
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@
     std::uint16_t flags =
         blobs::OpenFlags::write | FirmwareFlags::UpdateFlags::ipmi;
 
+    blobs::BlobMeta expectedIdleMeta = {0xff00, 0, {}};
+
     std::vector<std::string> startingBlobs = {staticLayoutBlobId, hashBlobId};
 };