diff --git a/main-loop.c b/main-loop.c
index 60e974832..692381cb1 100644
--- a/main-loop.c
+++ b/main-loop.c
@@ -142,14 +142,12 @@ static int qemu_signal_init(void)
      */
     sigemptyset(&set);
     sigaddset(&set, SIG_IPI);
-    pthread_sigmask(SIG_BLOCK, &set, NULL);
-
-    sigemptyset(&set);
     sigaddset(&set, SIGIO);
     sigaddset(&set, SIGALRM);
     sigaddset(&set, SIGBUS);
     pthread_sigmask(SIG_BLOCK, &set, NULL);
 
+    sigdelset(&set, SIG_IPI);
     sigfd = qemu_signalfd(&set);
     if (sigfd == -1) {
         fprintf(stderr, "failed to create signalfd\n");