diff --git a/sys/kern/uipc_mqueue.c b/sys/kern/uipc_mqueue.c
index 488650190a3..354564b080f 100644
--- a/sys/kern/uipc_mqueue.c
+++ b/sys/kern/uipc_mqueue.c
@@ -714,7 +714,9 @@ do_recycle(void *context, int pending __unused)
 {
 	struct vnode *vp = (struct vnode *)context;
 
+	vn_lock(vp, LK_EXCLUSIVE | LK_RETRY);
 	vrecycle(vp);
+	VOP_UNLOCK(vp, 0);
 	vdrop(vp);
 }