diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_switch.c b/sys/kern/kern_switch.c
index 93cbf7b54db..885dc22cea7 100644
--- a/sys/kern/kern_switch.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_switch.c
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ critical_exit(void)
 
 	if (td->td_critnest == 1) {
 		td->td_critnest = 0;
-		if (td->td_owepreempt) {
+		if (td->td_owepreempt && !kdb_active) {
 			td->td_critnest = 1;
 			thread_lock(td);
 			td->td_critnest--;