diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_switch.c b/sys/kern/kern_switch.c
index a8ead79984d..2776f7ee6f9 100644
--- a/sys/kern/kern_switch.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_switch.c
@@ -443,9 +443,8 @@ critical_exit(void)
 {
 	struct thread *td;
 
-	KASSERT(td->td_critnest > 0,
-	    ("critical_exit:  critnest < 0"));
 	td = curthread;
+	KASSERT(td->td_critnest > 0, ("critical_exit:  critnest < 0"));
 	if (td->td_critnest == 1) {
 		td->td_critnest = 0;
 		cpu_critical_exit();