diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_cache.c b/sys/kern/vfs_cache.c
index 313879cf6d1f..14e148b2f839 100644
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_cache.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_cache.c
@@ -4784,13 +4784,14 @@ cache_fplookup_emptypath(struct cache_fpl *fpl)
 	tvp_seqc = fpl->tvp_seqc;
 
 	MPASS(*cnp->cn_pnbuf == '\0');
-	MPASS((cnp->cn_flags & (LOCKPARENT | WANTPARENT)) == 0);
 
 	if (__predict_false((cnp->cn_flags & EMPTYPATH) == 0)) {
 		cache_fpl_smr_exit(fpl);
 		return (cache_fpl_handled_error(fpl, ENOENT));
 	}
 
+	MPASS((cnp->cn_flags & (LOCKPARENT | WANTPARENT)) == 0);
+
 	tvs = vget_prep_smr(tvp);
 	cache_fpl_smr_exit(fpl);
 	if (__predict_false(tvs == VGET_NONE)) {