diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
index 739d22089f97..9e72fab53ec9 100644
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
@@ -1918,9 +1918,16 @@ freevnode(struct vnode *vp)
 	mac_vnode_destroy(vp);
 #endif
 	if (vp->v_pollinfo != NULL) {
-		vn_lock(vp, LK_EXCLUSIVE | LK_RETRY);
+#ifdef WITNESS
+		/*
+		 * Shut up witness about the lock
+		 */
+		VOP_LOCK(vp, LK_EXCLUSIVE | LK_NOWAIT);
+#endif
 		destroy_vpollinfo(vp->v_pollinfo);
+#ifdef WITNESS
 		VOP_UNLOCK(vp);
+#endif
 		vp->v_pollinfo = NULL;
 	}
 	vp->v_mountedhere = NULL;