diff --git a/sys/net/altq/altq_hfsc.c b/sys/net/altq/altq_hfsc.c
--- a/sys/net/altq/altq_hfsc.c
+++ b/sys/net/altq/altq_hfsc.c
@@ -825,8 +825,10 @@
 	}
 
 	m = hfsc_getq(cl);
-	if (m == NULL)
-		panic("hfsc_dequeue:");
+	if (m == NULL) {
+		kprintf("hfsc_dequeue: qempty but no packet\n");
+		return NULL;
+	}
 	len = m_pktlen(m);
 	cl->cl_hif->hif_packets--;
 	ALTQ_SQ_PKTCNT_DEC(ifsq);