diff --git a/sys/fs/tmpfs/tmpfs_subr.c b/sys/fs/tmpfs/tmpfs_subr.c
--- a/sys/fs/tmpfs/tmpfs_subr.c
+++ b/sys/fs/tmpfs/tmpfs_subr.c
@@ -1103,6 +1103,13 @@
 		vn_irflag_set_locked(vp, (tm->tm_pgread ? VIRF_PGREAD : 0) |
 		    VIRF_TEXT_REF);
 		VI_UNLOCK(vp);
+		VNASSERT((object->flags & OBJ_TMPFS_VREF) == 0, vp,
+		    ("leaked OBJ_TMPFS_VREF"));
+		if (object->un_pager.swp.writemappings > 0) {
+			vrefact(vp);
+			vlazy(vp);
+			vm_object_set_flag(object, OBJ_TMPFS_VREF);
+		}
 		VM_OBJECT_WUNLOCK(object);
 		break;
 	case VDIR: