diff --git a/sys/fs/nullfs/null_vnops.c b/sys/fs/nullfs/null_vnops.c
index b663d8d718d3..c9daae40ece7 100644
--- a/sys/fs/nullfs/null_vnops.c
+++ b/sys/fs/nullfs/null_vnops.c
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ null_lock(struct vop_lock1_args *ap)
 		 * We prevent it from being recycled by holding the vnode
 		 * here.
 		 */
-		vholdl(lvp);
+		vholdnz(lvp);
 		error = VOP_LOCK(lvp, flags);
 
 		/*
@@ -710,31 +710,16 @@ static int
 null_unlock(struct vop_unlock_args *ap)
 {
 	struct vnode *vp = ap->a_vp;
-	int flags = ap->a_flags;
-	int mtxlkflag = 0;
 	struct null_node *nn;
 	struct vnode *lvp;
 	int error;
 
-	if ((flags & LK_INTERLOCK) != 0)
-		mtxlkflag = 1;
-	else if (mtx_owned(VI_MTX(vp)) == 0) {
-		VI_LOCK(vp);
-		mtxlkflag = 2;
-	}
 	nn = VTONULL(vp);
 	if (nn != NULL && (lvp = NULLVPTOLOWERVP(vp)) != NULL) {
-		VI_LOCK_FLAGS(lvp, MTX_DUPOK);
-		flags |= LK_INTERLOCK;
-		vholdl(lvp);
-		VI_UNLOCK(vp);
-		error = VOP_UNLOCK(lvp, flags);
+		vholdnz(lvp);
+		error = VOP_UNLOCK(lvp, 0);
 		vdrop(lvp);
-		if (mtxlkflag == 0)
-			VI_LOCK(vp);
 	} else {
-		if (mtxlkflag == 2)
-			VI_UNLOCK(vp);
 		error = vop_stdunlock(ap);
 	}
 
@@ -845,10 +830,8 @@ null_getwritemount(struct vop_getwritemount_args *ap)
 	VI_LOCK(vp);
 	xp = VTONULL(vp);
 	if (xp && (lowervp = xp->null_lowervp)) {
-		VI_LOCK_FLAGS(lowervp, MTX_DUPOK);
+		vholdnz(lowervp);
 		VI_UNLOCK(vp);
-		vholdl(lowervp);
-		VI_UNLOCK(lowervp);
 		VOP_GETWRITEMOUNT(lowervp, ap->a_mpp);
 		vdrop(lowervp);
 	} else {
diff --git a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
index 288a1ff905fa..3700aa9b2610 100644
--- a/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
+++ b/sys/kern/vfs_subr.c
@@ -3018,6 +3018,19 @@ _vhold(struct vnode *vp, bool locked)
 		VI_UNLOCK(vp);
 }
 
+void
+vholdnz(struct vnode *vp)
+{
+
+	CTR2(KTR_VFS, "%s: vp %p", __func__, vp);
+#ifdef INVARIANTS
+	int old = atomic_fetchadd_int(&vp->v_holdcnt, 1);
+	VNASSERT(old > 0, vp, ("%s: wrong hold count", __func__));
+#else
+	refcount_acquire(&vp->v_holdcnt);
+#endif
+}
+
 /*
  * Drop the hold count of the vnode.  If this is the last reference to
  * the vnode we place it on the free list unless it has been vgone'd
diff --git a/sys/sys/vnode.h b/sys/sys/vnode.h
index 09740c9f721d..061dc611a06e 100644
--- a/sys/sys/vnode.h
+++ b/sys/sys/vnode.h
@@ -657,6 +657,7 @@ void	vgone(struct vnode *vp);
 #define	vhold(vp)	_vhold((vp), 0)
 #define	vholdl(vp)	_vhold((vp), 1)
 void	_vhold(struct vnode *, bool);
+void	vholdnz(struct vnode *);
 void	vinactive(struct vnode *, struct thread *);
 int	vinvalbuf(struct vnode *vp, int save, int slpflag, int slptimeo);
 int	vtruncbuf(struct vnode *vp, off_t length, int blksize);