diff --git a/sys/vm/vm_kern.c b/sys/vm/vm_kern.c
--- a/sys/vm/vm_kern.c
+++ b/sys/vm/vm_kern.c
@@ -762,7 +762,8 @@
 	 * zeros, while not using much more physical resources.
 	 */
 	addr = kva_alloc(ZERO_REGION_SIZE);
-	m = vm_page_alloc_noobj(VM_ALLOC_WIRED | VM_ALLOC_ZERO);
+	m = vm_page_alloc_noobj(VM_ALLOC_WIRED | VM_ALLOC_ZERO |
+	    VM_ALLOC_NOFREE);
 	for (i = 0; i < ZERO_REGION_SIZE; i += PAGE_SIZE)
 		pmap_qenter(addr + i, &m, 1);
 	pmap_protect(kernel_pmap, addr, addr + ZERO_REGION_SIZE, VM_PROT_READ);