diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
index 6a8dfca84684..c380a36ba64f 100644
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
@@ -2641,6 +2641,7 @@ v_incr_usecount_locked(struct vnode *vp)
 		VNASSERT(vp->v_usecount == 0, vp,
 		    ("vnode with usecount and VI_OWEINACT set"));
 		vp->v_iflag &= ~VI_OWEINACT;
+		VNODE_REFCOUNT_FENCE_REL();
 	}
 	refcount_acquire(&vp->v_usecount);
 	v_incr_devcount(vp);