diff --git a/test/Makefile.am b/test/Makefile.am
index a85285a..3d51fa4 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/test/Makefile.am
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@
 	firmware_commit_unittest \
 	file_handler_unittest \
 	tools_blob_unittest \
-	tools_updater_unittest
+	tools_updater_unittest \
+	tools_ipmi_unittest
 
 TESTS = $(check_PROGRAMS)
 
@@ -73,3 +74,6 @@
 
 tools_updater_unittest_SOURCES = tools_updater_unittest.cpp
 tools_updater_unittest_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/tools/updater.o
+
+tools_ipmi_unittest_SOURCES = tools_ipmi_unittest.cpp
+tools_ipmi_unittest_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/tools/ipmi_handler.o
diff --git a/test/tools_ipmi_unittest.cpp b/test/tools_ipmi_unittest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a72489
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/tools_ipmi_unittest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#include "internal_sys_mock.hpp"
+#include "ipmi_handler.hpp"
+
+namespace host_tool
+{
+
+using ::testing::_;
+using ::testing::Return;
+
+TEST(IpmiHandlerTest, OpenAllFails)
+{
+    /* Open against all device files fail. */
+    internal::InternalSysMock sysMock;
+    IpmiHandler ipmi(&sysMock);
+
+    EXPECT_CALL(sysMock, open(_, _)).WillRepeatedly(Return(-1));
+    EXPECT_EQ(false, ipmi.open());
+}
+
+} // namespace host_tool
diff --git a/tools/ipmi_handler.cpp b/tools/ipmi_handler.cpp
index a0c1198..e1e0529 100644
--- a/tools/ipmi_handler.cpp
+++ b/tools/ipmi_handler.cpp
@@ -16,9 +16,40 @@
 
 #include "ipmi_handler.hpp"
 
+#include <fcntl.h>
+
+#include <sstream>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
 namespace host_tool
 {
 
+bool IpmiHandler::open()
+{
+    const int device = 0;
+    const std::vector<std::string> formats = {"/dev/ipmi", "/dev/ipmi/",
+                                              "/dev/ipmidev/"};
+
+    for (const auto& format : formats)
+    {
+        std::ostringstream path;
+        path << format << device;
+
+        fd = sys->open(path.str().c_str(), O_RDWR);
+        if (fd < 0)
+        {
+            continue;
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+
+    /* Should we throw an exception here, since we exhausted these options?
+     * Maybe. :D
+     */
+    return !(fd < 0);
+}
+
 std::vector<std::uint8_t>
     IpmiHandler::sendPacket(const std::vector<std::uint8_t>& data)
 {
diff --git a/tools/ipmi_handler.hpp b/tools/ipmi_handler.hpp
index eec0c87..48e6def 100644
--- a/tools/ipmi_handler.hpp
+++ b/tools/ipmi_handler.hpp
@@ -12,11 +12,28 @@
     explicit IpmiHandler(const internal::Sys* sys = &internal::sys_impl) :
         sys(sys){};
 
+    ~IpmiHandler() = default;
+    IpmiHandler(const IpmiHandler&) = delete;
+    IpmiHandler& operator=(const IpmiHandler&) = delete;
+    IpmiHandler(IpmiHandler&&) = default;
+    IpmiHandler& operator=(IpmiHandler&&) = default;
+
+    /**
+     * Attempt to open the device node.
+     *
+     * @return true on success, failure otherwise.
+     */
+    bool open();
+
     std::vector<std::uint8_t>
         sendPacket(const std::vector<std::uint8_t>& data) override;
 
   private:
     const internal::Sys* sys;
+    /** TODO: Use a smart file descriptor when it's ready.  Until then only
+     * allow moving this object.
+     */
+    int fd = -1;
 };
 
 } // namespace host_tool