diff --git a/sys/net/if.c b/sys/net/if.c
index 699278bd5f8..4c6df02e128 100644
--- a/sys/net/if.c
+++ b/sys/net/if.c
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ if_attach(ifp)
 		socksize = sizeof(*sdl);
 	socksize = ROUNDUP(socksize);
 	ifasize = sizeof(*ifa) + 2 * socksize;
-	ifa = (struct ifaddr *)malloc(ifasize, M_IFADDR, M_WAITOK | M_ZERO);
+	ifa = (struct ifaddr *)malloc(ifasize, M_IFADDR, M_NOWAIT | M_ZERO);
 	if (ifa) {
 		sdl = (struct sockaddr_dl *)(ifa + 1);
 		sdl->sdl_len = socksize;