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
@@ -3128,7 +3128,7 @@
 		error = ENOTDIR;
 		goto out_free;
 	}
-	vrefact(vp);
+	vref(vp);
 	/*
 	 * XXX does not check for VDIR, handled by namei_setup
 	 */