diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_timeout.c b/sys/kern/kern_timeout.c
index fe05d2ca48ab..bd754b155e00 100644
--- a/sys/kern/kern_timeout.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_timeout.c
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ callout_tick(void)
 	need_softclock = 0;
 	cc = CC_SELF();
 	mtx_lock_spin_flags(&cc->cc_lock, MTX_QUIET);
-	for (; cc->cc_softticks < ticks; cc->cc_softticks++) {
+	for (; (cc->cc_softticks - ticks) < 0; cc->cc_softticks++) {
 		bucket = cc->cc_softticks & callwheelmask;
 		if (!TAILQ_EMPTY(&cc->cc_callwheel[bucket])) {
 			need_softclock = 1;