diff --git a/sys/dev/disk/vn/vn.c b/sys/dev/disk/vn/vn.c
index 95bcf44..9f45281 100644
--- a/sys/dev/disk/vn/vn.c
+++ b/sys/dev/disk/vn/vn.c
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ vnsetcred(struct vn_softc *vn, struct ucred *cred)
 	 * Set credits in our softc
 	 */
 
-	if (vn->sc_cred)
+	if (vn->sc_cred && vn->sc_cred->cr_ref > 0)
 		crfree(vn->sc_cred);
 	vn->sc_cred = crdup(cred);