diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_descrip.c b/sys/kern/kern_descrip.c
--- a/sys/kern/kern_descrip.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_descrip.c
@@ -4173,7 +4173,8 @@
 }
 
 struct filedesc_to_leader *
-filedesc_to_leader_alloc(struct filedesc_to_leader *old, struct filedesc *fdp, struct proc *leader)
+filedesc_to_leader_alloc(struct filedesc_to_leader *old, struct filedesc *fdp,
+    struct proc *leader)
 {
 	struct filedesc_to_leader *fdtol;
 
@@ -4197,6 +4198,15 @@
 	return (fdtol);
 }
 
+struct filedesc_to_leader *
+filedesc_to_leader_share(struct filedesc_to_leader *fdtol, struct filedesc *fdp)
+{
+	FILEDESC_XLOCK(fdp);
+	fdtol->fdl_refcount++;
+	FILEDESC_XUNLOCK(fdp);
+	return (fdtol);
+}
+
 static int
 sysctl_kern_proc_nfds(SYSCTL_HANDLER_ARGS)
 {
diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_fork.c b/sys/kern/kern_fork.c
--- a/sys/kern/kern_fork.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_fork.c
@@ -451,10 +451,7 @@
 			 * Shared file descriptor table, and shared
 			 * process leaders.
 			 */
-			fdtol = p1->p_fdtol;
-			FILEDESC_XLOCK(p1->p_fd);
-			fdtol->fdl_refcount++;
-			FILEDESC_XUNLOCK(p1->p_fd);
+			fdtol = filedesc_to_leader_share(p1->p_fdtol, p1->p_fd);
 		} else {
 			/*
 			 * Shared file descriptor table, and different
diff --git a/sys/sys/filedesc.h b/sys/sys/filedesc.h
--- a/sys/sys/filedesc.h
+++ b/sys/sys/filedesc.h
@@ -270,6 +270,9 @@
 struct filedesc_to_leader *
 	filedesc_to_leader_alloc(struct filedesc_to_leader *old,
 	    struct filedesc *fdp, struct proc *leader);
+struct filedesc_to_leader *
+	filedesc_to_leader_share(struct filedesc_to_leader *fdtol,
+	    struct filedesc *fdp);
 int	getvnode(struct thread *td, int fd, cap_rights_t *rightsp,
 	    struct file **fpp);
 int	getvnode_path(struct thread *td, int fd, cap_rights_t *rightsp,