diff --git a/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_eal.c b/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_eal.c
index 8a888b1..56d1669 100644
--- a/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_eal.c
+++ b/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_eal.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ fs_bus_init(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 		}
 		ETH(sdev) = &rte_eth_devices[pid];
 		SUB_ID(sdev) = i;
-		sdev->fs_dev = dev;
+		sdev->fs_port_id = dev->data->port_id;
 		sdev->dev = ETH(sdev)->device;
 		sdev->state = DEV_PROBED;
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_ether.c b/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_ether.c
index 1783165..d5b1488 100644
--- a/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_ether.c
+++ b/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_ether.c
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ fs_dev_remove(struct sub_device *sdev)
 		break;
 	}
 	sdev->remove = 0;
-	failsafe_hotplug_alarm_install(sdev->fs_dev);
+	failsafe_hotplug_alarm_install(fsdev_from_subdev(sdev));
 }
 
 static void
@@ -318,8 +318,9 @@ fs_dev_stats_save(struct sub_device *sdev)
 			WARN("Using latest snapshot taken before %"PRIu64" seconds.\n",
 				 (rte_rdtsc() - timestamp) / rte_get_tsc_hz());
 	}
-	failsafe_stats_increment(&PRIV(sdev->fs_dev)->stats_accumulator,
-			err ? &sdev->stats_snapshot.stats : &stats);
+	failsafe_stats_increment
+		(&PRIV(fsdev_from_subdev(sdev))->stats_accumulator,
+		err ? &sdev->stats_snapshot.stats : &stats);
 	memset(&sdev->stats_snapshot, 0, sizeof(sdev->stats_snapshot));
 }
 
@@ -566,17 +567,17 @@ failsafe_eth_rmv_event_callback(uint16_t port_id __rte_unused,
 {
 	struct sub_device *sdev = cb_arg;
 
-	fs_lock(sdev->fs_dev, 0);
+	fs_lock(fsdev_from_subdev(sdev), 0);
 	/* Switch as soon as possible tx_dev. */
-	fs_switch_dev(sdev->fs_dev, sdev);
+	fs_switch_dev(fsdev_from_subdev(sdev), sdev);
 	/* Use safe bursts in any case. */
-	failsafe_set_burst_fn(sdev->fs_dev, 1);
+	failsafe_set_burst_fn(fsdev_from_subdev(sdev), 1);
 	/*
 	 * Async removal, the sub-PMD will try to unregister
 	 * the callback at the source of the current thread context.
 	 */
 	sdev->remove = 1;
-	fs_unlock(sdev->fs_dev, 0);
+	fs_unlock(fsdev_from_subdev(sdev), 0);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_intr.c b/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_intr.c
index 09aa3c6..d372d09 100644
--- a/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_intr.c
+++ b/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_intr.c
@@ -274,14 +274,14 @@ failsafe_eth_rx_intr_ctl_subdevice(struct sub_device *sdev, int op)
 	int rc;
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	fsdev = fsdev_from_subdev(sdev);
 	if (sdev == NULL || (ETH(sdev) == NULL) ||
-	    sdev->fs_dev == NULL || (PRIV(sdev->fs_dev) == NULL)) {
+		fsdev == NULL || (PRIV(fsdev) == NULL)) {
 		ERROR("Called with invalid arguments");
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 	dev = ETH(sdev);
-	fsdev = sdev->fs_dev;
-	epfd = PRIV(sdev->fs_dev)->rxp.efd;
+	epfd = PRIV(fsdev)->rxp.efd;
 	pid = PORT_ID(sdev);
 
 	if (epfd <= 0) {
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ int failsafe_rx_intr_install_subdevice(struct sub_device *sdev)
 	const struct rte_intr_conf *const intr_conf =
 				&ETH(sdev)->data->dev_conf.intr_conf;
 
-	fsdev = sdev->fs_dev;
+	fsdev = fsdev_from_subdev(sdev);
 	rxq = (struct rxq **)fsdev->data->rx_queues;
 	if (intr_conf->rxq == 0)
 		return 0;
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ void failsafe_rx_intr_uninstall_subdevice(struct sub_device *sdev)
 	struct rte_eth_dev *fsdev;
 	struct rxq *fsrxq;
 
-	fsdev = sdev->fs_dev;
+	fsdev = fsdev_from_subdev(sdev);
 	for (qid = 0; qid < ETH(sdev)->data->nb_rx_queues; qid++) {
 		if (qid < fsdev->data->nb_rx_queues) {
 			fsrxq = fsdev->data->rx_queues[qid];
diff --git a/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_private.h b/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_private.h
index 29dfd40..84e847f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_private.h
+++ b/drivers/net/failsafe/failsafe_private.h
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ struct sub_device {
 	/* Others are retrieved through a file descriptor */
 	char *fd_str;
 	/* fail-safe device backreference */
-	struct rte_eth_dev *fs_dev;
+	uint16_t fs_port_id; /* shared between processes*/
 	/* flag calling for recollection */
 	volatile unsigned int remove:1;
 	/* flow isolation state */
@@ -324,7 +324,8 @@ extern int failsafe_mac_from_arg;
  */
 #define FS_ATOMIC_RX(s, i) \
 	rte_atomic64_read( \
-	 &((struct rxq *)((s)->fs_dev->data->rx_queues[i]))->refcnt[(s)->sid] \
+	 &((struct rxq *) \
+	 (fsdev_from_subdev(s)->data->rx_queues[i]))->refcnt[(s)->sid] \
 	)
 /**
  * s: (struct sub_device *)
@@ -332,7 +333,8 @@ extern int failsafe_mac_from_arg;
  */
 #define FS_ATOMIC_TX(s, i) \
 	rte_atomic64_read( \
-	 &((struct txq *)((s)->fs_dev->data->tx_queues[i]))->refcnt[(s)->sid] \
+	 &((struct txq *) \
+	 (fsdev_from_subdev(s)->data->tx_queues[i]))->refcnt[(s)->sid] \
 	)
 
 #ifdef RTE_EXEC_ENV_BSDAPP
@@ -379,6 +381,11 @@ fs_find_next(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	return &subs[sid];
 }
 
+static inline struct rte_eth_dev *
+fsdev_from_subdev(struct sub_device *sdev) {
+	return &rte_eth_devices[sdev->fs_port_id];
+}
+
 /*
  * Lock hot-plug mutex.
  * is_alarm means that the caller is, for sure, the hot-plug alarm mechanism.
