diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_malloc.c b/sys/kern/kern_malloc.c
index 95685925027c..fe9459f47692 100644
--- a/sys/kern/kern_malloc.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_malloc.c
@@ -147,19 +147,9 @@ malloc(size, type, flags)
 		KASSERT(intr_nesting_level == 0,
 		   ("malloc(M_WAITOK) in interrupt context"));
 #endif
-	/*
-	 * Must be at splmem() prior to initializing segment to handle
-	 * potential initialization race.
-	 */
-
-	s = splmem();
-
-	if (type->ks_limit == 0)
-		malloc_init(type);
-
 	indx = BUCKETINDX(size);
 	kbp = &bucket[indx];
-
+	s = splmem();
 	while (ksp->ks_memuse >= ksp->ks_limit) {
 		if (flags & M_ASLEEP) {
 			if (ksp->ks_limblocks < 65535)
@@ -298,9 +288,6 @@ free(addr, type)
 #endif
 	register struct malloc_type *ksp = type;
 
-	if (type->ks_limit == 0)
-		panic("freeing with unknown type (%s)", type->ks_shortdesc);
-
 	KASSERT(kmembase <= (char *)addr && (char *)addr < kmemlimit,
 	    ("free: address %p out of range", (void *)addr));
 	kup = btokup(addr);
diff --git a/sys/sys/malloc.h b/sys/sys/malloc.h
index 126b22633748..3ea2012f4ed5 100644
--- a/sys/sys/malloc.h
+++ b/sys/sys/malloc.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ struct malloc_type {
 	struct malloc_type type[1] = { \
 		{ NULL, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, M_MAGIC, shortdesc, 0, 0 } \
 	}; \
-	SYSINIT(type##_init, SI_SUB_KMEM, SI_ORDER_ANY, malloc_init, type); \
+	SYSINIT(type##_init, SI_SUB_KMEM, SI_ORDER_SECOND, malloc_init, type); \
 	SYSUNINIT(type##_uninit, SI_SUB_KMEM, SI_ORDER_ANY, malloc_uninit, type)
 
 #define	MALLOC_DECLARE(type) \