diff --git a/sys/netinet/ip_mroute.c b/sys/netinet/ip_mroute.c
index 6b16ee4550d6..727a7c2a82e3 100644
--- a/sys/netinet/ip_mroute.c
+++ b/sys/netinet/ip_mroute.c
@@ -879,13 +879,19 @@ add_vif(struct vifctl *vifcp)
 	 */
 	ifp = NULL;
     } else {
+	struct epoch_tracker et;
+
 	sin.sin_addr = vifcp->vifc_lcl_addr;
+	NET_EPOCH_ENTER(et);
 	ifa = ifa_ifwithaddr((struct sockaddr *)&sin);
 	if (ifa == NULL) {
+	    NET_EPOCH_EXIT(et);
 	    VIF_UNLOCK();
 	    return EADDRNOTAVAIL;
 	}
 	ifp = ifa->ifa_ifp;
+	/* XXX FIXME we need to take a ref on ifp and cleanup properly! */
+	NET_EPOCH_EXIT(et);
     }
 
     if ((vifcp->vifc_flags & VIFF_TUNNEL) != 0) {