diff --git a/sys/netinet/tcp_syncache.c b/sys/netinet/tcp_syncache.c
--- a/sys/netinet/tcp_syncache.c
+++ b/sys/netinet/tcp_syncache.c
@@ -1113,8 +1113,10 @@
 			goto failed;
 		}
 		bzero(&scs, sizeof(scs));
-		if (syncookie_expand(inc, sch, &scs, th, to, *lsop, port))
+		if (syncookie_expand(inc, sch, &scs, th, to, *lsop, port)) {
 			sc = &scs;
+			TCPSTAT_INC(tcps_sc_recvcookie);
+		}
 		if (locked)
 			SCH_UNLOCK(sch);
 		if (sc == NULL) {
@@ -2344,7 +2346,6 @@
 
 	sc->sc_port = port;
 
-	TCPSTAT_INC(tcps_sc_recvcookie);
 	return (true);
 }