diff --git a/sys/fs/nullfs/null_subr.c b/sys/fs/nullfs/null_subr.c
index 74274b59393b..e0de5c8cc058 100644
--- a/sys/fs/nullfs/null_subr.c
+++ b/sys/fs/nullfs/null_subr.c
@@ -252,11 +252,12 @@ null_nodeget(mp, lowervp, vpp)
 	vp->v_type = lowervp->v_type;
 	vp->v_data = xp;
 	vp->v_vnlock = lowervp->v_vnlock;
-	if (lowervp == MOUNTTONULLMOUNT(mp)->nullm_lowerrootvp)
-		vp->v_vflag |= VV_ROOT;
 	error = insmntque1(vp, mp, null_insmntque_dtr, xp);
 	if (error != 0)
 		return (error);
+	if (lowervp == MOUNTTONULLMOUNT(mp)->nullm_lowerrootvp)
+		vp->v_vflag |= VV_ROOT;
+
 	/*
 	 * Atomically insert our new node into the hash or vget existing 
 	 * if someone else has beaten us to it.