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
@@ -323,9 +323,10 @@
 static void	vdbatch_dequeue(struct vnode *vp);
 
 /*
- * When shutting down the syncer, run it at four times normal speed.
+ * The syncer will require at least SYNCER_MAXDELAY iterations to shutdown;
+ * we probably don't want to pause for the whole second each time.
  */
-#define SYNCER_SHUTDOWN_SPEEDUP		4
+#define SYNCER_SHUTDOWN_SPEEDUP		32
 static int sync_vnode_count;
 static int syncer_worklist_len;
 static enum { SYNCER_RUNNING, SYNCER_SHUTTING_DOWN, SYNCER_FINAL_DELAY }