diff --git a/sys/geom/journal/g_journal.c b/sys/geom/journal/g_journal.c
index 4bd35f972509..7b9b81337006 100644
--- a/sys/geom/journal/g_journal.c
+++ b/sys/geom/journal/g_journal.c
@@ -2757,7 +2757,8 @@ g_journal_fini(struct g_class *mp)
 	}
 	if (g_journal_event_lowmem != NULL)
 		EVENTHANDLER_DEREGISTER(vm_lowmem, g_journal_event_lowmem);
-	g_journal_stop_switcher();
+	if (g_journal_switcher_proc != NULL)
+		g_journal_stop_switcher();
 }
 
 DECLARE_GEOM_CLASS(g_journal_class, g_journal);