diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
index 23343f12a1b..952a48990d2 100644
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
@@ -2218,8 +2218,10 @@ vputx(struct vnode *vp, int func)
 		}
 		break;
 	case VPUTX_VUNREF:
-		if (VOP_ISLOCKED(vp) != LK_EXCLUSIVE)
-			error = EBUSY;
+		if (VOP_ISLOCKED(vp) != LK_EXCLUSIVE) {
+			error = VOP_LOCK(vp, LK_TRYUPGRADE | LK_INTERLOCK);
+			VI_LOCK(vp);
+		}
 		break;
 	}
 	if (vp->v_usecount > 0)