diff --git a/doc/configuration.txt b/doc/configuration.txt
index 05f0701..e6ea2cf 100644
--- a/doc/configuration.txt
+++ b/doc/configuration.txt
@@ -587,6 +587,7 @@
    - nosplice
    - nogetaddrinfo
    - noreuseport
+   - no-unused-socket
    - spread-checks
    - server-state-base
    - server-state-file
@@ -1250,6 +1251,12 @@
   Disables the use of SO_REUSEPORT - see socket(7). It is equivalent to the
   command line argument "-dR".
 
+no-unused-socket
+  By default, each haproxy process keeps all sockets opened, event those that
+  are only used by another processes, so that any process can provide all the
+  sockets, to make reloads seamless. This option disables this, and close all
+  unused sockets, to save some file descriptors.
+
 spread-checks <0..50, in percent>
   Sometimes it is desirable to avoid sending agent and health checks to
   servers at exact intervals, for instance when many logical servers are
diff --git a/include/proto/fd.h b/include/proto/fd.h
index 87309bf..1efe323 100644
--- a/include/proto/fd.h
+++ b/include/proto/fd.h
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@
  */
 void fd_delete(int fd);
 
+/* Deletes an FD from the fdsets, and recomputes the maxfd limit.
+ * The file descriptor is kept open.
+ */
+void fd_remove(int fd);
+
 /* disable the specified poller */
 void disable_poller(const char *poller_name);
 
diff --git a/include/proto/listener.h b/include/proto/listener.h
index 552d695..079d976 100644
--- a/include/proto/listener.h
+++ b/include/proto/listener.h
@@ -88,6 +88,11 @@
  */
 int unbind_listener(struct listener *listener);
 
+/* This function pretends the listener is dead, but keeps the FD opened, so
+ * that we can provide it, for conf reloading.
+ */
+int unbind_listener_no_close(struct listener *listener);
+
 /* This function closes all listening sockets bound to the protocol <proto>,
  * and the listeners end in LI_ASSIGNED state if they were higher. It does not
  * detach them from the protocol. It always returns ERR_NONE.
diff --git a/include/proto/proxy.h b/include/proto/proxy.h
index 72f1e1d..e5d20c4 100644
--- a/include/proto/proxy.h
+++ b/include/proto/proxy.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 int pause_proxy(struct proxy *p);
 int resume_proxy(struct proxy *p);
 void stop_proxy(struct proxy *p);
+void zombify_proxy(struct proxy *p);
 void pause_proxies(void);
 void resume_proxies(void);
 int  stream_set_backend(struct stream *s, struct proxy *be);
diff --git a/include/types/global.h b/include/types/global.h
index df8e2c6..57b969d 100644
--- a/include/types/global.h
+++ b/include/types/global.h
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@
 #define GTUNE_USE_REUSEPORT      (1<<6)
 #define GTUNE_RESOLVE_DONTFAIL   (1<<7)
 
+#define GTUNE_SOCKET_TRANSFER	 (1<<8)
+
 /* Access level for a stats socket */
 #define ACCESS_LVL_NONE     0
 #define ACCESS_LVL_USER     1
diff --git a/include/types/listener.h b/include/types/listener.h
index 227cc28..2b8f5fe 100644
--- a/include/types/listener.h
+++ b/include/types/listener.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 	LI_INIT,        /* all parameters filled in, but not assigned yet */
 	LI_ASSIGNED,    /* assigned to the protocol, but not listening yet */
 	LI_PAUSED,      /* listener was paused, it's bound but not listening  */
+	LI_ZOMBIE,	/* The listener doesn't belong to the process, but is kept opened */
 	LI_LISTEN,      /* started, listening but not enabled */
 	LI_READY,       /* started, listening and enabled */
 	LI_FULL,        /* reached its connection limit */
diff --git a/src/cfgparse.c b/src/cfgparse.c
index 47d33cf..348b9e8 100644
--- a/src/cfgparse.c
+++ b/src/cfgparse.c
@@ -659,6 +659,11 @@
 			goto out;
 		global.tune.options &= ~GTUNE_USE_REUSEPORT;
 	}
+	else if (!strcmp(args[0], "no-unused-socket")) {
+		if (alertif_too_many_args(0, file, linenum, args, &err_code))
+			goto out;
+		global.tune.options &= ~GTUNE_SOCKET_TRANSFER;
+	}
 	else if (!strcmp(args[0], "quiet")) {
 		if (alertif_too_many_args(0, file, linenum, args, &err_code))
 			goto out;
diff --git a/src/cli.c b/src/cli.c
index 54fb438..20e143b 100644
--- a/src/cli.c
+++ b/src/cli.c
@@ -1063,10 +1063,11 @@
 		struct listener *l;
 
 		list_for_each_entry(l, &px->conf.listeners, by_fe) {
-			/* Only transfer IPv4/IPv6 sockets */
-			if (l->proto->sock_family == AF_INET ||
+			/* Only transfer IPv4/IPv6/UNIX sockets */
+			if (l->state >= LI_ZOMBIE &&
+			    (l->proto->sock_family == AF_INET ||
 			    l->proto->sock_family == AF_INET6 ||
-			    l->proto->sock_family == AF_UNIX)
+			    l->proto->sock_family == AF_UNIX))
 				tot_fd_nb++;
 		}
 		px = px->next;
@@ -1117,7 +1118,7 @@
 		list_for_each_entry(l, &px->conf.listeners, by_fe) {
 			int ret;
 			/* Only transfer IPv4/IPv6 sockets */
-			if (l->state >= LI_LISTEN &&
+			if (l->state >= LI_ZOMBIE &&
 			    (l->proto->sock_family == AF_INET ||
 			    l->proto->sock_family == AF_INET6 ||
 			    l->proto->sock_family == AF_UNIX)) {
diff --git a/src/fd.c b/src/fd.c
index aeee602..1a62f9a 100644
--- a/src/fd.c
+++ b/src/fd.c
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@
 /* Deletes an FD from the fdsets, and recomputes the maxfd limit.
  * The file descriptor is also closed.
  */
-void fd_delete(int fd)
+static void fd_dodelete(int fd, int do_close)
 {
 	if (fdtab[fd].linger_risk) {
 		/* this is generally set when connecting to servers */
@@ -190,7 +190,8 @@
 
 	port_range_release_port(fdinfo[fd].port_range, fdinfo[fd].local_port);
 	fdinfo[fd].port_range = NULL;
-	close(fd);
+	if (do_close)
+		close(fd);
 	fdtab[fd].owner = NULL;
 	fdtab[fd].new = 0;
 
@@ -198,6 +199,22 @@
 		maxfd--;
 }
 
+/* Deletes an FD from the fdsets, and recomputes the maxfd limit.
+ * The file descriptor is also closed.
+ */
+void fd_delete(int fd)
+{
+	fd_dodelete(fd, 1);
+}
+
+/* Deletes an FD from the fdsets, and recomputes the maxfd limit.
+ * The file descriptor is kept open.
+ */
+void fd_remove(int fd)
+{
+	fd_dodelete(fd, 0);
+}
+
 /* Scan and process the cached events. This should be called right after
  * the poller. The loop may cause new entries to be created, for example
  * if a listener causes an accept() to initiate a new incoming connection
diff --git a/src/haproxy.c b/src/haproxy.c
index bf176df..01969c9 100644
--- a/src/haproxy.c
+++ b/src/haproxy.c
@@ -857,6 +857,7 @@
 #if defined(SO_REUSEPORT)
 	global.tune.options |= GTUNE_USE_REUSEPORT;
 #endif
+	global.tune.options |= GTUNE_SOCKET_TRANSFER;
 
 	pid = getpid();
 	progname = *argv;
@@ -1668,6 +1669,15 @@
 		}/* end while(s) */
 
 		list_for_each_entry_safe(l, l_next, &p->conf.listeners, by_fe) {
+			/*
+			 * Zombie proxy, the listener just pretend to be up
+			 * because they still hold an opened fd.
+			 * Close it and give the listener its real state.
+			 */
+			if (p->state == PR_STSTOPPED && l->state >= LI_ZOMBIE) {
+				close(l->fd);
+				l->state = LI_INIT;
+			}
 			unbind_listener(l);
 			delete_listener(l);
 			LIST_DEL(&l->by_fe);
@@ -2148,8 +2158,12 @@
 		px = proxy;
 		while (px != NULL) {
 			if (px->bind_proc && px->state != PR_STSTOPPED) {
-				if (!(px->bind_proc & (1UL << proc)))
-					stop_proxy(px);
+				if (!(px->bind_proc & (1UL << proc))) {
+					if (global.tune.options & GTUNE_SOCKET_TRANSFER)
+						zombify_proxy(px);
+					else
+						stop_proxy(px);
+				}
 			}
 			px = px->next;
 		}
diff --git a/src/listener.c b/src/listener.c
index 7a1df0e..a99e4c0 100644
--- a/src/listener.c
+++ b/src/listener.c
@@ -59,7 +59,12 @@
 			/* we don't want to enable this listener and don't
 			 * want any fd event to reach it.
 			 */
-			unbind_listener(listener);
+			if (!(global.tune.options & GTUNE_SOCKET_TRANSFER))
+				unbind_listener(listener);
+			else {
+				unbind_listener_no_close(listener);
+				listener->state = LI_LISTEN;
+			}
 		}
 		else if (listener->nbconn < listener->maxconn) {
 			fd_want_recv(listener->fd);
@@ -95,7 +100,7 @@
  */
 int pause_listener(struct listener *l)
 {
-	if (l->state <= LI_PAUSED)
+	if (l->state <= LI_ZOMBIE)
 		return 1;
 
 	if (l->proto->pause) {
@@ -149,7 +154,7 @@
 			return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (l->state < LI_PAUSED)
+	if (l->state < LI_PAUSED || l->state == LI_ZOMBIE)
 		return 0;
 
 	if (l->proto->sock_prot == IPPROTO_TCP &&
@@ -242,12 +247,7 @@
 	}
 }
 
-/* This function closes the listening socket for the specified listener,
- * provided that it's already in a listening state. The listener enters the
- * LI_ASSIGNED state. It always returns ERR_NONE. This function is intended
- * to be used as a generic function for standard protocols.
- */
-int unbind_listener(struct listener *listener)
+static int do_unbind_listener(struct listener *listener, int do_close)
 {
 	if (listener->state == LI_READY)
 		fd_stop_recv(listener->fd);
@@ -256,13 +256,35 @@
 		LIST_DEL(&listener->wait_queue);
 
 	if (listener->state >= LI_PAUSED) {
-		fd_delete(listener->fd);
-		listener->fd = -1;
+		if (do_close) {
+			fd_delete(listener->fd);
+			listener->fd = -1;
+		}
+		else
+			fd_remove(listener->fd);
 		listener->state = LI_ASSIGNED;
 	}
 	return ERR_NONE;
 }
 
+/* This function closes the listening socket for the specified listener,
+ * provided that it's already in a listening state. The listener enters the
+ * LI_ASSIGNED state. It always returns ERR_NONE. This function is intended
+ * to be used as a generic function for standard protocols.
+ */
+int unbind_listener(struct listener *listener)
+{
+	return do_unbind_listener(listener, 1);
+}
+
+/* This function pretends the listener is dead, but keeps the FD opened, so
+ * that we can provide it, for conf reloading.
+ */
+int unbind_listener_no_close(struct listener *listener)
+{
+	return do_unbind_listener(listener, 0);
+}
+
 /* This function closes all listening sockets bound to the protocol <proto>,
  * and the listeners end in LI_ASSIGNED state if they were higher. It does not
  * detach them from the protocol. It always returns ERR_NONE.
diff --git a/src/proxy.c b/src/proxy.c
index d158fac..dc70213 100644
--- a/src/proxy.c
+++ b/src/proxy.c
@@ -991,6 +991,19 @@
 	p = proxy;
 	tv_update_date(0,1); /* else, the old time before select will be used */
 	while (p) {
+		/* Zombie proxy, let's close the file descriptors */
+		if (p->state == PR_STSTOPPED &&
+		    !LIST_ISEMPTY(&p->conf.listeners) &&
+		    LIST_ELEM(p->conf.listeners.n,
+		    struct listener *, by_fe)->state >= LI_ZOMBIE) {
+			struct listener *l;
+			list_for_each_entry(l, &p->conf.listeners, by_fe) {
+				if (l->state >= LI_ZOMBIE)
+					close(l->fd);
+				l->state = LI_INIT;
+			}
+		}
+
 		if (p->state != PR_STSTOPPED) {
 			Warning("Stopping %s %s in %d ms.\n", proxy_cap_str(p->cap), p->id, p->grace);
 			send_log(p, LOG_WARNING, "Stopping %s %s in %d ms.\n", proxy_cap_str(p->cap), p->id, p->grace);
@@ -1051,6 +1064,45 @@
 	return 1;
 }
 
+/* This function makes the proxy unusable, but keeps the listening sockets
+ * opened, so that if any process requests them, we are able to serve them.
+ * This should only be called early, before we started accepting requests.
+ */
+void zombify_proxy(struct proxy *p)
+{
+	struct listener *l;
+	struct listener *first_to_listen = NULL;
+
+	list_for_each_entry(l, &p->conf.listeners, by_fe) {
+		enum li_state oldstate = l->state;
+
+		unbind_listener_no_close(l);
+		if (l->state >= LI_ASSIGNED) {
+			delete_listener(l);
+			listeners--;
+			jobs--;
+		}
+		/*
+		 * Pretend we're still up and running so that the fd
+		 * will be sent if asked.
+		 */
+		l->state = LI_ZOMBIE;
+		if (!first_to_listen && oldstate >= LI_LISTEN)
+			first_to_listen = l;
+	}
+	/* Quick hack : at stop time, to know we have to close the sockets
+	 * despite the proxy being marked as stopped, make the first listener
+	 * of the listener list an active one, so that we don't have to
+	 * parse the whole list to be sure.
+	 */
+	if (first_to_listen && LIST_ELEM(p->conf.listeners.n,
+	    struct listener *, by_fe) != first_to_listen) {
+		LIST_DEL(&l->by_fe);
+		LIST_ADD(&p->conf.listeners, &l->by_fe);
+	}
+
+	p->state = PR_STSTOPPED;
+}
 
 /*
  * This function completely stops a proxy and releases its listeners. It has