--- old/src/share/vm/memory/universe.cpp	2017-07-28 14:29:29.961736726 +0200
+++ new/src/share/vm/memory/universe.cpp	2017-07-28 14:29:29.833731454 +0200
@@ -497,7 +497,11 @@
 #define assert_pll_ownership() assert_pll_locked(owned_by_self)
 
 oop Universe::reference_pending_list() {
-  assert_pll_ownership();
+  if (Thread::current()->is_VM_thread()) {
+    assert_pll_locked(is_locked);
+  } else {
+    assert_pll_ownership();
+  }
   return _reference_pending_list;
 }