diff --git a/sys/vm/vm_pager.c b/sys/vm/vm_pager.c
index 3550d5a6fac1..4da046ece50c 100644
--- a/sys/vm/vm_pager.c
+++ b/sys/vm/vm_pager.c
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ pbuf_ctor(void *mem, int size, void *arg, int flags)
 	bp->b_ioflags = 0;
 	bp->b_iodone = NULL;
 	bp->b_error = 0;
-	BUF_LOCK(bp, LK_EXCLUSIVE | LK_NOWAIT, NULL);
+	BUF_LOCK(bp, LK_EXCLUSIVE | LK_NOWITNESS, NULL);
 
 	return (0);
 }