diff --git a/sys/kern/uipc_socket.c b/sys/kern/uipc_socket.c
--- a/sys/kern/uipc_socket.c
+++ b/sys/kern/uipc_socket.c
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@
 
 	newmaxsockets = maxsockets;
 	error = sysctl_handle_int(oidp, &newmaxsockets, 0, req);
-	if (error == 0 && req->newptr) {
+	if (error == 0 && req->newptr && newmaxsockets != maxsockets) {
 		if (newmaxsockets > maxsockets &&
 		    newmaxsockets <= maxfiles) {
 			maxsockets = newmaxsockets;