diff --git a/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixFile.cc b/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixFile.cc
index 08e52d03e86..92ebe77722d 100644
--- a/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixFile.cc
+++ b/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixFile.cc
@@ -225,22 +225,25 @@ bool XrdPosixFile::Close(XrdCl::XRootDStatus &Status)
 /*                              F i n a l i z e                               */
 /******************************************************************************/
 
-bool XrdPosixFile::Finalize(XrdCl::XRootDStatus &Status)
+bool XrdPosixFile::Finalize(XrdCl::XRootDStatus *Status)
 {
+   XrdOucCacheIO2 *ioP;
+
 // Indicate that we are at the start of the file
 //
    currOffset = 0;
 
 // Complete initialization. If the stat() fails, the caller will unwind the
-// whole open process (ick).
+// whole open process (ick). In the process get correct I/O vector.
 
-   if (!Stat(Status))
-      return false;
+        if (!Status)       ioP = (XrdOucCacheIO2 *)PrepIO;
+   else if (Stat(*Status)) ioP = (XrdOucCacheIO2 *)this;
+   else return false;
 
 // Setup the cache if it is to be used
 //
    if (XrdPosixGlobals::theCache)
-      XCio = XrdPosixGlobals::theCache->Attach((XrdOucCacheIO2 *)this, cOpt);
+      XCio = XrdPosixGlobals::theCache->Attach(ioP, cOpt);
 
    return true;
 }
@@ -258,8 +261,8 @@ void XrdPosixFile::HandleResponse(XrdCl::XRootDStatus *status,
 
 // If no errors occured, complete the open
 //
-   if (!(status->IsOK()))         rc = XrdPosixMap::Result(*status);
-      else if (!Finalize(Status)) rc = XrdPosixMap::Result(Status);
+   if (!(status->IsOK()))          rc = XrdPosixMap::Result(*status);
+      else if (!Finalize(&Status)) rc = XrdPosixMap::Result(Status);
 
 // Issue callback with the correct result
 //
diff --git a/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixFile.hh b/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixFile.hh
index d30cf68e8a5..d9e2adf052c 100644
--- a/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixFile.hh
+++ b/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixFile.hh
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static void          DelayedDestroy(XrdPosixFile *fp);
 
        bool          Close(XrdCl::XRootDStatus &Status);
 
-       bool          Finalize(XrdCl::XRootDStatus &Status);
+       bool          Finalize(XrdCl::XRootDStatus *Status);
 
        long long     FSize() {AtomicBeg(updMutex);
                               long long retSize = AtomicGet(mySize);
diff --git a/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixXrootd.cc b/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixXrootd.cc
index 7576bb7f045..84b94dbecfc 100644
--- a/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixXrootd.cc
+++ b/src/XrdPosix/XrdPosixXrootd.cc
@@ -106,7 +106,11 @@ int OpenDefer(XrdPosixFile           *fp,
 
 // Allocate a prepare I/O object to defer this open
 //
-   fp->XCio = fp->PrepIO = new XrdPosixPrepIO(fp, XOflags, XOmode);
+   fp->PrepIO = new XrdPosixPrepIO(fp, XOflags, XOmode);
+
+// Finalize this file object. A null argument indicates it is defered.
+//
+   fp->Finalize(0);
 
 // For sync opens we just need to return the file descriptor
 //
@@ -545,7 +549,7 @@ int XrdPosixXrootd::Open(const char *path, int oflags, mode_t mode,
 // finalization is defered until the callback happens.
 //
    if (cbP) {errno = EINPROGRESS; return -1;}
-   if (fp->Finalize(Status)) return fp->FDNum();
+   if (fp->Finalize(&Status)) return fp->FDNum();
    return XrdPosixMap::Result(Status);
 }