diff --git a/sys/amd64/isa/ithread.c b/sys/amd64/isa/ithread.c
index 9e6b41e1a79..f8326eaa2b6 100644
--- a/sys/amd64/isa/ithread.c
+++ b/sys/amd64/isa/ithread.c
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ start_softintr(void *dummy)
 	p->p_rtprio.type = RTP_PRIO_ITHREAD;
 	p->p_rtprio.prio = PI_SOFT;	/* soft interrupt */
 	p->p_stat = SWAIT;		/* we're idle */
+	p->p_flag |= P_NOLOAD;
 
 	/* Put in linkages. */
 	softintr->it_proc = p;
diff --git a/sys/i386/isa/ithread.c b/sys/i386/isa/ithread.c
index 9e6b41e1a79..f8326eaa2b6 100644
--- a/sys/i386/isa/ithread.c
+++ b/sys/i386/isa/ithread.c
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ start_softintr(void *dummy)
 	p->p_rtprio.type = RTP_PRIO_ITHREAD;
 	p->p_rtprio.prio = PI_SOFT;	/* soft interrupt */
 	p->p_stat = SWAIT;		/* we're idle */
+	p->p_flag |= P_NOLOAD;
 
 	/* Put in linkages. */
 	softintr->it_proc = p;
diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_idle.c b/sys/kern/kern_idle.c
index b7d70314fb7..b6aa0c0e7dc 100644
--- a/sys/kern/kern_idle.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_idle.c
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ idle_setup(void *dummy)
 		if (error)
 			panic("idle_setup: kthread_create error %d\n", error);
 
+		gd->gd_idleproc->p_flag |= P_NOLOAD;
 		gd->gd_idleproc->p_stat = SRUN;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/sys/sys/proc.h b/sys/sys/proc.h
index edc2cd22269..d504aba7bbe 100644
--- a/sys/sys/proc.h
+++ b/sys/sys/proc.h
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ struct	proc {
 #define	SSLEEP	3		/* Sleeping on an address. */
 #define	SSTOP	4		/* Process debugging or suspension. */
 #define	SZOMB	5		/* Awaiting collection by parent. */
-#define	SWAIT	6		/* Waiting for interrupt or CPU. */
+#define	SWAIT	6		/* Waiting for interrupt. */
 #define	SMTX	7		/* Blocked on a mutex. */
 
 /* These flags are kept in p_flags. */
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ struct	proc {
 #define	P_WAITED	0x01000	/* Debugging process has waited for child. */
 #define	P_WEXIT		0x02000	/* Working on exiting. */
 #define	P_EXEC		0x04000	/* Process called exec. */
+#define P_NOLOAD	0x08000	/* Ignore during load avg calculations. */
 
 /* Should probably be changed into a hold count. */
 /* was	P_NOSWAP	0x08000	was: Do not swap upages; p->p_hold */
diff --git a/sys/vm/vm_meter.c b/sys/vm/vm_meter.c
index 0f584c86ae2..8b68a65c6d7 100644
--- a/sys/vm/vm_meter.c
+++ b/sys/vm/vm_meter.c
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ loadav(struct loadavg *avg)
 				continue;
 			/* FALLTHROUGH */
 		case SRUN:
+			if ((p->p_flag & P_NOLOAD) != 0)
+				continue;
+			/* FALLTHROUGH */
 		case SIDL:
 			nrun++;
 		}