diff --git a/lib/libbdev/ipc.c b/lib/libbdev/ipc.c
index ce6403e37..2c4ce2701 100644
--- a/lib/libbdev/ipc.c
+++ b/lib/libbdev/ipc.c
@@ -36,9 +36,17 @@ static int bdev_recover(dev_t dev, int update_endpt)
  */
   bdev_call_t *call, *next;
   endpoint_t endpt;
-  int r, nr_tries;
+  int r, active, nr_tries;
 
-  printf("bdev: recovering from a driver restart on major %d\n", major(dev));
+  /* Only print output if there is something to recover. Some drivers may be
+   * shut down and later restarted legitimately, and if they were not in use
+   * while that happened, there is no need to flood the console with messages.
+   */
+  active = bdev_minor_is_open(dev) || bdev_call_iter_maj(dev, NULL, &next);
+
+  if (active)
+	printf("bdev: recovering from a driver restart on major %d\n",
+		major(dev));
 
   for (nr_tries = 0; nr_tries < RECOVER_TRIES; nr_tries++) {
 	/* First update the endpoint, if necessary. */
@@ -79,7 +87,8 @@ static int bdev_recover(dev_t dev, int update_endpt)
 	/* Recovery seems successful. We can now reissue the current
 	 * synchronous request (if any), and continue normal operation.
 	 */
-	printf("bdev: recovery successful, new driver is at %d\n", endpt);
+	if (active)
+		printf("bdev: recovery successful, new driver at %d\n", endpt);
 
 	return TRUE;
   }
diff --git a/lib/libbdev/minor.c b/lib/libbdev/minor.c
index 519da33eb..205f16c89 100644
--- a/lib/libbdev/minor.c
+++ b/lib/libbdev/minor.c
@@ -118,3 +118,19 @@ void bdev_minor_del(dev_t dev)
 	}
   }
 }
+
+int bdev_minor_is_open(dev_t dev)
+{
+/* Return whether any minor is open for the major of the given device.
+ */
+  int i, major;
+
+  major = major(dev);
+
+  for (i = 0; i < NR_OPEN_DEVS; i++) {
+	if (major(open_dev[i].dev) == major)
+		return TRUE;
+  }
+
+  return FALSE;
+}
diff --git a/lib/libbdev/proto.h b/lib/libbdev/proto.h
index 24f11d089..51963a8e7 100644
--- a/lib/libbdev/proto.h
+++ b/lib/libbdev/proto.h
@@ -29,5 +29,6 @@ extern int bdev_sendrec(dev_t dev, const message *m_orig);
 extern int bdev_minor_reopen(dev_t dev);
 extern void bdev_minor_add(dev_t dev, int access);
 extern void bdev_minor_del(dev_t dev);
+extern int bdev_minor_is_open(dev_t dev);
 
 #endif /* _BDEV_PROTO_H */