diff --git a/sys/dev/netmap/if_vtnet_netmap.h b/sys/dev/netmap/if_vtnet_netmap.h
index 113a85655531..fc667738a1f5 100644
--- a/sys/dev/netmap/if_vtnet_netmap.h
+++ b/sys/dev/netmap/if_vtnet_netmap.h
@@ -33,25 +33,6 @@
 #include <vm/pmap.h>    /* vtophys ? */
 #include <dev/netmap/netmap_kern.h>
 
-/*
- * Return 1 if the queue identified by 't' and 'idx' is in netmap mode.
- */
-static int
-vtnet_netmap_queue_on(struct vtnet_softc *sc, enum txrx t, int idx)
-{
-	struct netmap_adapter *na = NA(sc->vtnet_ifp);
-
-	if (!nm_native_on(na))
-		return 0;
-
-	if (t == NR_RX)
-		return !!(idx < na->num_rx_rings &&
-			na->rx_rings[idx]->nr_mode == NKR_NETMAP_ON);
-
-	return !!(idx < na->num_tx_rings &&
-		na->tx_rings[idx]->nr_mode == NKR_NETMAP_ON);
-}
-
 /* Register and unregister. */
 static int
 vtnet_netmap_reg(struct netmap_adapter *na, int state)
diff --git a/sys/dev/netmap/netmap_kern.h b/sys/dev/netmap/netmap_kern.h
index 14896ebaa6a5..3786826d8e38 100644
--- a/sys/dev/netmap/netmap_kern.h
+++ b/sys/dev/netmap/netmap_kern.h
@@ -1353,6 +1353,24 @@ nm_native_on(struct netmap_adapter *na)
 	return nm_netmap_on(na) && (na->na_flags & NAF_NATIVE);
 }
 
+static inline struct netmap_kring *
+netmap_kring_on(struct netmap_adapter *na, u_int q, enum txrx t)
+{
+	struct netmap_kring *kring = NULL;
+
+	if (!nm_native_on(na))
+		return NULL;
+
+	if (t == NR_RX && q < na->num_rx_rings)
+		kring = na->rx_rings[q];
+	else if (t == NR_TX && q < na->num_tx_rings)
+		kring = na->tx_rings[q];
+	else
+		return NULL;
+
+	return (kring->nr_mode == NKR_NETMAP_ON) ? kring : NULL;
+}
+
 static inline int
 nm_iszombie(struct netmap_adapter *na)
 {
diff --git a/sys/dev/virtio/network/if_vtnet.c b/sys/dev/virtio/network/if_vtnet.c
index 570528738ee6..68fcfb4cb9db 100644
--- a/sys/dev/virtio/network/if_vtnet.c
+++ b/sys/dev/virtio/network/if_vtnet.c
@@ -1249,17 +1249,17 @@ vtnet_rxq_free_mbufs(struct vtnet_rxq *rxq)
 	struct mbuf *m;
 	int last;
 #ifdef DEV_NETMAP
-	int netmap_bufs = vtnet_netmap_queue_on(rxq->vtnrx_sc, NR_RX,
-						rxq->vtnrx_id);
+	struct netmap_kring *kring = netmap_kring_on(NA(rxq->vtnrx_sc->vtnet_ifp),
+							rxq->vtnrx_id, NR_RX);
 #else  /* !DEV_NETMAP */
-	int netmap_bufs = 0;
+	void *kring = NULL;
 #endif /* !DEV_NETMAP */
 
 	vq = rxq->vtnrx_vq;
 	last = 0;
 
 	while ((m = virtqueue_drain(vq, &last)) != NULL) {
-		if (!netmap_bufs)
+		if (kring == NULL)
 			m_freem(m);
 	}
 
@@ -2074,17 +2074,17 @@ vtnet_txq_free_mbufs(struct vtnet_txq *txq)
 	struct vtnet_tx_header *txhdr;
 	int last;
 #ifdef DEV_NETMAP
-	int netmap_bufs = vtnet_netmap_queue_on(txq->vtntx_sc, NR_TX,
-						txq->vtntx_id);
+	struct netmap_kring *kring = netmap_kring_on(NA(txq->vtntx_sc->vtnet_ifp),
+							txq->vtntx_id, NR_TX);
 #else  /* !DEV_NETMAP */
-	int netmap_bufs = 0;
+	void *kring = NULL;
 #endif /* !DEV_NETMAP */
 
 	vq = txq->vtntx_vq;
 	last = 0;
 
 	while ((txhdr = virtqueue_drain(vq, &last)) != NULL) {
-		if (!netmap_bufs) {
+		if (kring == NULL) {
 			m_freem(txhdr->vth_mbuf);
 			uma_zfree(vtnet_tx_header_zone, txhdr);
 		}