diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/irq_alpha.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/irq_alpha.c
index e6ded33..9d34ce2 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/irq_alpha.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/irq_alpha.c
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
 #ifdef CONFIG_SMP
 	  {
 		long cpu;
+
+		local_irq_disable();
 		smp_percpu_timer_interrupt(regs);
 		cpu = smp_processor_id();
 		if (cpu != boot_cpuid) {