diff --git a/src/tcpedit/plugins/dlt_plugins.c b/src/tcpedit/plugins/dlt_plugins.c
index 70885309..5c2741c2 100644
--- a/src/tcpedit/plugins/dlt_plugins.c
+++ b/src/tcpedit/plugins/dlt_plugins.c
@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@ const char *tcpeditdlt_bit_info[] = {"Missing required Layer 3 protocol.",
  * Public functions
  ********************************************************************/
 
+/*
+ * Ensure init/cleanup are called only once
+ * Assume a single tcpedit struct and return the previously allocated context.
+ */
+static int tcpedit_dlt_is_initialized = 0;
+
 /**
  * initialize our plugin library.  Pass the DLT of the source pcap handle.
  * Actions:
@@ -117,6 +123,9 @@ tcpedit_dlt_init(tcpedit_t *tcpedit, const int srcdlt)
     assert(tcpedit);
     assert(srcdlt >= 0);
 
+    if (tcpedit_dlt_is_initialized++ > 0)
+        return tcpedit->dlt_ctx;
+
     ctx = (tcpeditdlt_t *)safe_malloc(sizeof(tcpeditdlt_t));
 
     /* do we need a side buffer for L3 data? */
@@ -445,6 +454,9 @@ tcpedit_dlt_cleanup(tcpeditdlt_t *ctx)
 {
     tcpeditdlt_plugin_t *plugin;
 
+    if (--tcpedit_dlt_is_initialized <= 0)
+        return;
+
     assert(ctx);
 
     plugin = ctx->plugins;