diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386 b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
index aea5affc08a..0d6dcdd0cfb 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ kernel-install kernel-install.debug:
 	-rm -rf ${DESTDIR}${KODIR}.old
 .endif
 	mv ${DESTDIR}${KODIR} ${DESTDIR}${KODIR}.old
+	[ "`sysctl -n kern.bootfile`" != "${DESTDIR}${KODIR}/kernel" ] || \
+		sysctl kern.bootfile=${DESTDIR}${KODIR}.old/kernel
 .endif
 	mkdir -p ${DESTDIR}${KODIR}
 	install -c -m 555 -o root -g wheel \