diff --git a/sys/alpha/alpha/mem.c b/sys/alpha/alpha/mem.c
index 13bbeb1fa23a..8e751138c195 100644
--- a/sys/alpha/alpha/mem.c
+++ b/sys/alpha/alpha/mem.c
@@ -116,12 +116,16 @@ mmclose(dev_t dev, int flags, int fmt, struct thread *td)
 static int
 mmopen(dev_t dev, int flags, int fmt, struct thread *td)
 {
+	int error;
 
 	switch (minor(dev)) {
 	case 0:
 	case 1:
-		if ((flags & FWRITE) && securelevel > 0)
-			return (EPERM);
+		if (flags & FWRITE) {
+			error = securelevel_gt(td->td_proc->p_ucred, 0);
+			if (error)
+				return (error);
+		}
 		break;
 	case 32:
 #ifdef PERFMON
diff --git a/sys/alpha/alpha/sys_machdep.c b/sys/alpha/alpha/sys_machdep.c
index 0d304cbaad09..939289a14e74 100644
--- a/sys/alpha/alpha/sys_machdep.c
+++ b/sys/alpha/alpha/sys_machdep.c
@@ -114,8 +114,9 @@ alpha_sethae(struct thread *td, char *args)
 	if (error)
 		return (error);
 
-	if (securelevel > 0)
-		return (EPERM);
+	error = securelevel_gt(td->td_proc->p_ucred, 0);
+	if (error)
+		return (error);
 
 	error = suser(td->td_proc);
 	if (error)