diff --git a/arch/powerpc/xmon/xmon.c b/arch/powerpc/xmon/xmon.c
index f12687d0354..b481db1dacb 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/xmon/xmon.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/xmon/xmon.c
@@ -330,18 +330,17 @@ static void release_output_lock(void)
 static int xmon_core(struct pt_regs *regs, int fromipi)
 {
 	int cmd = 0;
-	unsigned long msr;
 	struct bpt *bp;
 	long recurse_jmp[JMP_BUF_LEN];
 	unsigned long offset;
+	unsigned long flags;
 #ifdef CONFIG_SMP
 	int cpu;
 	int secondary;
 	unsigned long timeout;
 #endif
 
-	msr = mfmsr();
-	mtmsr(msr & ~MSR_EE);	/* disable interrupts */
+	local_irq_save(flags);
 
 	bp = in_breakpoint_table(regs->nip, &offset);
 	if (bp != NULL) {
@@ -516,7 +515,7 @@ static int xmon_core(struct pt_regs *regs, int fromipi)
 
 	insert_cpu_bpts();
 
-	mtmsr(msr);		/* restore interrupt enable */
+	local_irq_restore(flags);
 
 	return cmd != 'X' && cmd != EOF;
 }