diff --git a/src/libmsc/sgs_iface.c b/src/libmsc/sgs_iface.c
index 95b68f8..450d552 100644
--- a/src/libmsc/sgs_iface.c
+++ b/src/libmsc/sgs_iface.c
@@ -1258,8 +1258,6 @@
 		return NULL;
 	g_sgs = sgs;
 
-	sgs_server_open(sgs);
-
 	return sgs;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libmsc/sgs_vty.c b/src/libmsc/sgs_vty.c
index 8ba5a79..dbf2607 100644
--- a/src/libmsc/sgs_vty.c
+++ b/src/libmsc/sgs_vty.c
@@ -56,9 +56,11 @@
 	osmo_strlcpy(sgs->cfg.local_addr, argv[0], sizeof(sgs->cfg.local_addr));
 	osmo_stream_srv_link_set_addr(sgs->srv_link, sgs->cfg.local_addr);
 
-	rc = sgs_server_open(sgs);
-	if (rc < 0)
-		return CMD_WARNING;
+	if (vty->type != VTY_FILE) {
+		rc = sgs_server_open(sgs);
+		if (rc < 0)
+			return CMD_WARNING;
+	}
 
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }
@@ -74,9 +76,11 @@
 	sgs->cfg.local_port = atoi(argv[0]);
 	osmo_stream_srv_link_set_port(sgs->srv_link, sgs->cfg.local_port);
 
-	rc = sgs_server_open(sgs);
-	if (rc < 0)
-		return CMD_WARNING;
+	if (vty->type != VTY_FILE) {
+		rc = sgs_server_open(sgs);
+		if (rc < 0)
+			return CMD_WARNING;
+	}
 
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }