diff -r ba13efd453bc -r 926ac1e006db hotspot/src/share/vm/runtime/thread.cpp
--- a/hotspot/src/share/vm/runtime/thread.cpp	Wed Mar 27 19:21:18 2013 +0100
+++ b/hotspot/src/share/vm/runtime/thread.cpp	Fri Mar 29 13:49:37 2013 -0700
@@ -3423,12 +3423,6 @@
   // real raw monitor. VM is setup enough here for raw monitor enter.
   JvmtiExport::transition_pending_onload_raw_monitors();
 
-  if (VerifyBeforeGC &&
-      Universe::heap()->total_collections() >= VerifyGCStartAt) {
-    Universe::heap()->prepare_for_verify();
-    Universe::verify();   // make sure we're starting with a clean slate
-  }
-
   // Fully start NMT
   MemTracker::start();
 
@@ -3452,6 +3446,11 @@
   }
 
   assert (Universe::is_fully_initialized(), "not initialized");
+  if (VerifyBeforeGC && VerifyGCStartAt == 0) {
+    Universe::heap()->prepare_for_verify();
+    Universe::verify();   // make sure we're starting with a clean slate
+  }
+
   EXCEPTION_MARK;
 
   // At this point, the Universe is initialized, but we have not executed