diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/packagefs/nodes/UnpackingAttributeCookie.cpp b/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/packagefs/nodes/UnpackingAttributeCookie.cpp
index 81ec8cbc18..867380f58c 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/packagefs/nodes/UnpackingAttributeCookie.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/packagefs/nodes/UnpackingAttributeCookie.cpp
@@ -163,6 +163,15 @@ UnpackingAttributeCookie::IndexAttribute(PackageNode* packageNode,
 
 	// read the attribute
 	if (toRead > 0) {
+		// The package must be open or otherwise reading the attribute data
+		// may fail.
+		int fd = packageNode->GetPackage()->Open();
+		if (fd < 0) {
+			indexer->DeleteCookie();
+			return fd;
+		}
+		PackageCloser packageCloser(packageNode->GetPackage());
+
 		error = ReadAttribute(packageNode, attribute, 0, data, &toRead);
 		if (error != B_OK) {
 			indexer->DeleteCookie();
diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/packagefs/volume/Volume.cpp b/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/packagefs/volume/Volume.cpp
index 4a53765061..fc24afe94a 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/packagefs/volume/Volume.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/file_systems/packagefs/volume/Volume.cpp
@@ -949,6 +949,16 @@ Volume::_FindPackage(const char* fileName) const
 status_t
 Volume::_AddPackageContent(Package* package, bool notify)
 {
+	// Open the package. We don't need the FD here, but this is an optimization.
+	// The attribute indices may want to read the package nodes' attributes and
+	// the package file would be opened and closed for each attribute instance.
+	// Since Package keeps and shares the FD as long as at least one party has
+	// the package open, we prevent that.
+	int fd = package->Open();
+	if (fd < 0)
+		RETURN_ERROR(fd);
+	PackageCloser packageCloser(package);
+
 	status_t error = fPackageFSRoot->AddPackage(package);
 	if (error != B_OK)
 		RETURN_ERROR(error);