diff --git a/sys/kern/subr_kdb.c b/sys/kern/subr_kdb.c
--- a/sys/kern/subr_kdb.c
+++ b/sys/kern/subr_kdb.c
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@
 kdb_panic(const char *msg)
 {
 
+	kdb_why = KDB_WHY_PANIC;
 	printf("KDB: panic\n");
 	panic("%s", msg);
 }
@@ -300,6 +301,7 @@
 kdb_reboot(void)
 {
 
+	kdb_why = KDB_WHY_REBOOT;
 	printf("KDB: reboot requested\n");
 	shutdown_nice(0);
 }
@@ -498,9 +500,9 @@
 {
 
 	if (kdb_dbbe != NULL && kdb_active == 0) {
+		kdb_why = why;
 		if (msg != NULL)
 			printf("KDB: enter: %s\n", msg);
-		kdb_why = why;
 		breakpoint();
 		kdb_why = KDB_WHY_UNSET;
 	}
diff --git a/sys/sys/kdb.h b/sys/sys/kdb.h
--- a/sys/sys/kdb.h
+++ b/sys/sys/kdb.h
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@
 #define	KDB_WHY_POWERPC		"powerpc"	/* Unhandled powerpc intr. */
 #define	KDB_WHY_UNIONFS		"unionfs"	/* Unionfs bug. */
 #define	KDB_WHY_DTRACE		"dtrace"	/* DTrace action entered debugger. */
+#define	KDB_WHY_REBOOT		"reboot"	/* reboot was requested. */
 
 /* Return values for kdb_alt_break */
 #define	KDB_REQ_DEBUGGER	1	/* User requested Debugger */