Index: geom_subr.c
===================================================================
RCS file: /private/FreeBSD/src/sys/geom/geom_subr.c,v
retrieving revision 1.69
diff -u -p -r1.69 geom_subr.c
--- geom_subr.c	2 Feb 2004 19:49:41 -0000	1.69
+++ geom_subr.c	5 Feb 2004 22:05:30 -0000
@@ -644,7 +644,16 @@ g_access_rel(struct g_consumer *cp, int 
 
 	/* Ok then... */
 
-	error = pp->geom->access(pp, dcr, dcw, dce);
+	if ((pp->geom->flags & G_GEOM_WITHER) != 0 &&
+	    dcr <= 0 && dcw <= 0 && dce <= 0) {
+		/*
+		 * Silently accept decreasing access count for providers
+		 * on WITHERing geom.
+		 */
+		error = 0;
+	} else {
+		error = pp->geom->access(pp, dcr, dcw, dce);
+	}
 	if (!error) {
 		/*
 		 * If we open first write, spoil any partner consumers.