diff --git a/bmc/firmware_handler.cpp b/bmc/firmware_handler.cpp
index fede302..96b4eba 100644
--- a/bmc/firmware_handler.cpp
+++ b/bmc/firmware_handler.cpp
@@ -110,12 +110,12 @@
      * we cannot close an active session.  To enforce this, we only allow
      * deleting if there isn't a file open.
      */
-    if (fileOpen)
+    if (fileOpen())
     {
         return false;
     }
 
-    /* only includes states where fileOpen == false */
+    /* only includes states where fileOpen() == false */
     switch (state)
     {
         case UpdateState::notYetStarted:
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@
      * verification process has begun -- which is done via commit() on the hash
      * blob_id, we no longer want to allow updating the contents.
      */
-    if (fileOpen)
+    if (fileOpen())
     {
         return false;
     }
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@
             break;
         case UpdateState::verificationPending:
             /* Handle opening the verifyBlobId --> we know the image and hash
-             * aren't open because of the fileOpen check.  They can still open
+             * aren't open because of the fileOpen() check. They can still open
              * other files from this state to transition back into
              * uploadInProgress.
              *
@@ -369,7 +369,6 @@
 
                 lookup[session] = &verifyImage;
 
-                fileOpen = true;
                 return true;
             }
             break;
@@ -386,7 +385,6 @@
 
                 lookup[session] = &updateImage;
 
-                fileOpen = true;
                 return true;
             }
             else
@@ -516,7 +514,6 @@
     removeBlobId(verifyBlobId);
 
     changeState(UpdateState::uploadInProgress);
-    fileOpen = true;
 
     return true;
 }
@@ -753,7 +750,6 @@
     }
 
     lookup.erase(item);
-    fileOpen = false;
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/bmc/firmware_handler.hpp b/bmc/firmware_handler.hpp
index 472bb8e..3a4b4be 100644
--- a/bmc/firmware_handler.hpp
+++ b/bmc/firmware_handler.hpp
@@ -210,6 +210,11 @@
                       blobIDs.end());
     }
 
+    inline bool fileOpen()
+    {
+        return !lookup.empty();
+    }
+
     ActionStatus getVerifyStatus();
     ActionStatus getActionStatus();
 
@@ -252,9 +257,6 @@
     bool preparationTriggered = false;
     ActionMap actionPacks;
 
-    /** Temporary variable to track whether a blob is open. */
-    bool fileOpen = false;
-
     ActionStatus lastVerificationStatus = ActionStatus::unknown;
 
     ActionStatus lastUpdateStatus = ActionStatus::unknown;
diff --git a/ipmi_flash.md b/ipmi_flash.md
index f69d226..ef982d1 100644
--- a/ipmi_flash.md
+++ b/ipmi_flash.md
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@
 
 The two files are only present once their corresponding blob has been opened.
 
-# The state of fileOpen per state
+# The state of fileOpen() per state
 
 You can only open one file at a time, and some of the states exist only when a
 file is open.
 
-State                   | fileOpen
-:---------------------- | :-------
+State                   | fileOpen()
+:---------------------- | :---------
 `notYetStarted`         | `false`
 `uploadInProgress`      | `true`
 `verificationPending`   | `false`
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 
 **The BMC is expecting to receive bytes.**
 
-*   `open(/flash/*)` returns false because `fileOpen == true`
+*   `open(/flash/*)` returns false because `fileOpen() == true`
 
 *   `close(/flash/*)` triggers `state -> verificationPending`
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
 
 **The update process has started.**
 
-*   `open(/flash/*)`r eturns false because `fileOpen == true`
+*   `open(/flash/*)`r eturns false because `fileOpen() == true`
 
 ## `updatedCompleted`