diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
index 12364bf8c231..bd0f2f912b52 100644
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
@@ -2641,6 +2641,7 @@ void
 vrefl(struct vnode *vp)
 {
 
+	ASSERT_VI_LOCKED(vp, __func__);
 	CTR2(KTR_VFS, "%s: vp %p", __func__, vp);
 	_vhold(vp, true);
 	v_incr_usecount_locked(vp);