diff --git a/sys/vm/vm_object.c b/sys/vm/vm_object.c
index 7ff561d52a2b..8157649330d8 100644
--- a/sys/vm/vm_object.c
+++ b/sys/vm/vm_object.c
@@ -1918,8 +1918,13 @@ vm_object_page_remove(vm_object_t object, vm_pindex_t start, vm_pindex_t end,
 		if ((options & OBJPR_NOTMAPPED) == 0) {
 			pmap_remove_all(p);
 			/* Account for removal of wired mappings. */
-			if (wirings != 0)
-				p->wire_count -= wirings;
+			if (wirings != 0) {
+				KASSERT(p->wire_count == wirings,
+				    ("inconsistent wire count %d %d %p",
+				    p->wire_count, wirings, p));
+				p->wire_count = 0;
+				atomic_subtract_int(&cnt.v_wire_count, 1);
+			}
 		}
 		vm_page_free(p);
 		vm_page_unlock(p);