diff --git a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
index 25d08af76ffc..b0391c87f854 100644
--- a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
+++ b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ enum { PF_ICMP_MULTI_NONE, PF_ICMP_MULTI_SOLICITED, PF_ICMP_MULTI_LINK };
 #define	STATE_LOOKUP(i, k, d, s, pd)					\
 	do {								\
 		(s) = pf_find_state((i), (k), (d));			\
-		if ((s) == NULL || (s)->timeout == PFTM_PURGE)		\
+		if ((s) == NULL)					\
 			return (PF_DROP);				\
 		if (PACKET_LOOPED(pd))					\
 			return (PF_PASS);				\
@@ -1230,11 +1230,11 @@ pf_find_state(struct pfi_kif *kif, struct pf_state_key_cmp *key, u_int dir)
 		if (s->kif == V_pfi_all || s->kif == kif) {
 			PF_STATE_LOCK(s);
 			PF_HASHROW_UNLOCK(kh);
-			if (s->timeout == PFTM_UNLINKED) {
+			if (s->timeout >= PFTM_MAX) {
 				/*
-				 * State is being processed
-				 * by pf_unlink_state() in
-				 * an other thread.
+				 * State is either being processed by
+				 * pf_unlink_state() in an other thread, or
+				 * is scheduled for immediate expiry.
 				 */
 				PF_STATE_UNLOCK(s);
 				return (NULL);