Question about env_flash variable in env/sf.c

Hi, I am reading the code in env/sf.c file (to add the .erase opt and support of "env erase" command), and I have a question about the static variable env_flash.

Today it is a global flash pointer, initialized by the function setup_flash_device() And it is called in all the functions before to use the SPI API

1/ env_sf_save()

2/ env_sf_load()

But this SPI resource is only released in env_sf_load() by: spi_flash_free(env_flash); env_flash = NULL; I don't see any reason why it is not done also in env_sf_save(), after a "env save". But perhaps I miss something... I ask because if it is the case the variable env_flash could be local at each env_sf function, as result of setup_flash_device. Any idea ? Regards Patrick