diff --git a/sys/vm/swap_pager.c b/sys/vm/swap_pager.c
--- a/sys/vm/swap_pager.c
+++ b/sys/vm/swap_pager.c
@@ -2669,21 +2669,23 @@
 }
 
 /*
- * Check that the total amount of swap currently configured does not
- * exceed half the theoretical maximum.  If it does, print a warning
- * message.
+ * Check that the total amount of swap does not exceed the maximum or
+ * recommended values, and print a warning if it does.  The recommended
+ * value is half the maximum value, to account for fragmentation.
  */
 static void
 swapon_check_swzone(void)
 {
-
-	/* recommend using no more than half that amount */
-	if (swap_total > swap_maxpages / 2) {
+	if (swap_total > swap_maxpages) {
+		printf("warning: total configured swap (%lu pages) "
+		    "exceeds maximum supported amount (%lu pages).\n"
+		    "warning: increase kern.maxswzone "
+		    "or reduce amount of swap.\n",
+		    swap_total, swap_maxpages);
+	} else if (swap_total > swap_maxpages / 2) {
 		printf("warning: total configured swap (%lu pages) "
-		    "exceeds maximum recommended amount (%lu pages).\n",
+		    "exceeds recommended amount (%lu pages).\n",
 		    swap_total, swap_maxpages / 2);
-		printf("warning: increase kern.maxswzone "
-		    "or reduce amount of swap.\n");
 	}
 }