diff --git a/sys/amd64/amd64/pmap.c b/sys/amd64/amd64/pmap.c
--- a/sys/amd64/amd64/pmap.c
+++ b/sys/amd64/amd64/pmap.c
@@ -10867,18 +10867,16 @@
 	vm_page_t m;
 
 	VM_OBJECT_ASSERT_WLOCKED(pti_obj);
-	m = vm_page_grab(pti_obj, pti_pg_idx++, VM_ALLOC_NOBUSY |
-	    VM_ALLOC_WIRED | VM_ALLOC_ZERO);
+	m = vm_page_grab(pti_obj, pti_pg_idx++, VM_ALLOC_WIRED | VM_ALLOC_ZERO);
 	return (m);
 }
 
 static bool
 pmap_pti_free_page(vm_page_t m)
 {
-
-	KASSERT(m->ref_count > 0, ("page %p not referenced", m));
 	if (!vm_page_unwire_noq(m))
 		return (false);
+	vm_page_xbusy_claim(m);
 	vm_page_free_zero(m);
 	return (true);
 }
@@ -10984,7 +10982,6 @@
 
 	VM_OBJECT_ASSERT_WLOCKED(pti_obj);
 	m = PHYS_TO_VM_PAGE(DMAP_TO_PHYS((uintptr_t)pde));
-	MPASS(m->ref_count > 0);
 	MPASS(only_ref || m->ref_count > 1);
 	pmap_pti_free_page(m);
 }
@@ -10997,7 +10994,6 @@
 
 	VM_OBJECT_ASSERT_WLOCKED(pti_obj);
 	m = PHYS_TO_VM_PAGE(DMAP_TO_PHYS((uintptr_t)pte));
-	MPASS(m->ref_count > 0);
 	if (pmap_pti_free_page(m)) {
 		pde = pmap_pti_pde(va);
 		MPASS((*pde & (X86_PG_PS | X86_PG_V)) == X86_PG_V);