diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
@@ -3345,14 +3345,11 @@
 void
 vrefact(struct vnode *vp)
 {
+	int old __diagused;
 
 	CTR2(KTR_VFS, "%s: vp %p", __func__, vp);
-#ifdef INVARIANTS
-	int old = atomic_fetchadd_int(&vp->v_usecount, 1);
+	old = refcount_acquire(&vp->v_usecount);
 	VNASSERT(old > 0, vp, ("%s: wrong use count %d", __func__, old));
-#else
-	refcount_acquire(&vp->v_usecount);
-#endif
 }
 
 void