diff --git a/sys/dev/virtual/virtio/balloon/virtio_balloon.c b/sys/dev/virtual/virtio/balloon/virtio_balloon.c
--- a/sys/dev/virtual/virtio/balloon/virtio_balloon.c
+++ b/sys/dev/virtual/virtio/balloon/virtio_balloon.c
@@ -865,7 +865,9 @@
 			vtballoon_update_size(sc);
 		}
 		if (sc->vtballoon_update_stats) {
+			VTBALLOON_ENTER_SLZ(sc);
 			vtballoon_update_stats(sc);
+			VTBALLOON_EXIT_SLZ(sc);
 			sc->vtballoon_update_stats = false;
 		}
 	}