diff --git a/src/drivers/bitbash/i2c_bit.c b/src/drivers/bitbash/i2c_bit.c
index a72d1459..decc8d80 100644
--- a/src/drivers/bitbash/i2c_bit.c
+++ b/src/drivers/bitbash/i2c_bit.c
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@ static int i2c_reset ( struct bit_basher *basher ) {
 	 * pull SDA low while SCL is high (which creates a start
 	 * condition).
 	 */
+	open_bit ( basher );
 	setscl ( basher, 0 );
 	setsda ( basher, 1 );
 	for ( i = 0 ; i < I2C_RESET_MAX_CYCLES ; i++ ) {
@@ -251,6 +252,7 @@ static int i2c_reset ( struct bit_basher *basher ) {
 			i2c_stop ( basher );
 			DBGC ( basher, "I2CBIT %p reset after %d attempts\n",
 			       basher, ( i + 1 ) );
+			close_bit ( basher );
 			return 0;
 		}
 		setscl ( basher, 0 );
@@ -258,6 +260,7 @@ static int i2c_reset ( struct bit_basher *basher ) {
 
 	DBGC ( basher, "I2CBIT %p could not reset after %d attempts\n",
 	       basher, i );
+	close_bit ( basher );
 	return -ETIMEDOUT;
 }
 
@@ -285,6 +288,8 @@ static int i2c_bit_read ( struct i2c_interface *i2c,
 	DBGC ( basher, "I2CBIT %p reading from device %x: ",
 	       basher, i2cdev->dev_addr );
 
+	open_bit ( basher );
+
 	for ( ; ; data++, offset++ ) {
 
 		/* Select device for writing */
@@ -312,6 +317,7 @@ static int i2c_bit_read ( struct i2c_interface *i2c,
 	
 	DBGC ( basher, "%s\n", ( rc ? "failed" : "" ) );
 	i2c_stop ( basher );
+	close_bit ( basher );
 	return rc;
 }
 
@@ -339,6 +345,8 @@ static int i2c_bit_write ( struct i2c_interface *i2c,
 	DBGC ( basher, "I2CBIT %p writing to device %x: ",
 	       basher, i2cdev->dev_addr );
 
+	open_bit ( basher );
+
 	for ( ; ; data++, offset++ ) {
 
 		/* Select device for writing */
@@ -359,9 +367,10 @@ static int i2c_bit_write ( struct i2c_interface *i2c,
 		if ( ( rc = i2c_send_byte ( basher, *data ) ) != 0 )
 			break;
 	}
-	
+
 	DBGC ( basher, "%s\n", ( rc ? "failed" : "" ) );
 	i2c_stop ( basher );
+	close_bit ( basher );
 	return rc;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/drivers/bitbash/spi_bit.c b/src/drivers/bitbash/spi_bit.c
index 4a9af0a3..1b39d72f 100644
--- a/src/drivers/bitbash/spi_bit.c
+++ b/src/drivers/bitbash/spi_bit.c
@@ -163,6 +163,9 @@ static int spi_bit_rw ( struct spi_bus *bus, struct spi_device *device,
 	uint32_t tmp_address;
 	uint32_t tmp_address_detect;
 
+	/* Open bit-bashing interface */
+	open_bit ( &spibit->basher );
+
 	/* Deassert chip select to reset specified slave */
 	spi_bit_set_slave_select ( spibit, device->slave, DESELECT_SLAVE );
 
@@ -214,6 +217,9 @@ static int spi_bit_rw ( struct spi_bus *bus, struct spi_device *device,
 	/* Deassert chip select on specified slave */
 	spi_bit_set_slave_select ( spibit, device->slave, DESELECT_SLAVE );
 
+	/* Close bit-bashing interface */
+	close_bit ( &spibit->basher );
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/bitbash.h b/src/include/ipxe/bitbash.h
index 62b54b10..69d5d9e3 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/bitbash.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/bitbash.h
@@ -13,6 +13,18 @@ struct bit_basher;
 
 /** Bit-bashing operations */
 struct bit_basher_operations {
+	/**
+	 * Open bit-bashing interface (optional)
+	 *
+	 * @v basher		Bit-bashing interface
+	 */
+	void ( * open ) ( struct bit_basher *basher );
+	/**
+	 * Close bit-bashing interface (optional)
+	 *
+	 * @v basher		Bit-bashing interface
+	 */
+	void ( * close ) ( struct bit_basher *basher );
 	/**
 	 * Set/clear output bit
 	 *
@@ -45,6 +57,26 @@ struct bit_basher {
 	struct bit_basher_operations *op;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Open bit-bashing interface
+ *
+ * @v basher		Bit-bashing interface
+ */
+static inline void open_bit ( struct bit_basher *basher ) {
+	if ( basher->op->open )
+		basher->op->open ( basher );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Close bit-bashing interface
+ *
+ * @v basher		Bit-bashing interface
+ */
+static inline void close_bit ( struct bit_basher *basher ) {
+	if ( basher->op->close )
+		basher->op->close ( basher );
+}
+
 extern void write_bit ( struct bit_basher *basher, unsigned int bit_id,
 			unsigned long data );
 extern int read_bit ( struct bit_basher *basher, unsigned int bit_id );