diff --git a/sys/dev/md/md.c b/sys/dev/md/md.c
index cad97659a752..f0d1aec0d917 100644
--- a/sys/dev/md/md.c
+++ b/sys/dev/md/md.c
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ mdstart_swap(struct md_s *sc, struct bio *bp)
 	vm_object_pip_add(sc->object, 1);
 	for (i = bp->bio_offset / PAGE_SIZE; i <= lastp; i++) {
 		len = ((i == lastp) ? lastend : PAGE_SIZE) - offs;
-		m = vm_page_grab(sc->object, i, VM_ALLOC_NORMAL);
+		m = vm_page_grab(sc->object, i, VM_ALLOC_SYSTEM);
 		if (bp->bio_cmd == BIO_READ) {
 			if (m->valid == VM_PAGE_BITS_ALL)
 				rv = VM_PAGER_OK;