diff --git a/sys/vm/vm_page.c b/sys/vm/vm_page.c
index 407a046f9471..a012a1697f2f 100644
--- a/sys/vm/vm_page.c
+++ b/sys/vm/vm_page.c
@@ -2738,6 +2738,8 @@ vm_wait(void)
 		msleep(&vm_pageout_pages_needed, &vm_page_queue_free_mtx,
 		    PDROP | PSWP, "VMWait", 0);
 	} else {
+		if (__predict_false(pageproc == NULL))
+			panic("vm_wait in early boot");
 		if (!vm_pageout_wanted) {
 			vm_pageout_wanted = true;
 			wakeup(&vm_pageout_wanted);