diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/smp-mt.c b/arch/mips/kernel/smp-mt.c
index 06b29fa..2ac19a6c 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/smp-mt.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/smp-mt.c
@@ -153,6 +153,8 @@
 
 	/* Propagate Config7 */
 	write_vpe_c0_config7(read_c0_config7());
+
+	write_vpe_c0_count(read_c0_count());
 }
 
 static unsigned int __init smp_vpe_init(unsigned int tc, unsigned int mvpconf0,
diff --git a/arch/mips/mips-boards/generic/time.c b/arch/mips/mips-boards/generic/time.c
index 6597067..d817c60 100644
--- a/arch/mips/mips-boards/generic/time.c
+++ b/arch/mips/mips-boards/generic/time.c
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@
 #endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_MIPS_ATLAS) || defined(CONFIG_MIPS_MALTA)
 	unsigned long flags;
+	unsigned int start;
 
 	local_irq_save(flags);
 
@@ -217,13 +218,13 @@
 	while (!(CMOS_READ(RTC_REG_A) & RTC_UIP));
 
 	/* Start r4k counter. */
-	write_c0_count(0);
+	start = read_c0_count();
 
 	/* Read counter exactly on falling edge of update flag */
 	while (CMOS_READ(RTC_REG_A) & RTC_UIP);
 	while (!(CMOS_READ(RTC_REG_A) & RTC_UIP));
 
-	count = read_c0_count();
+	count = read_c0_count() - start;
 
 	/* restore interrupts */
 	local_irq_restore(flags);
diff --git a/include/asm-mips/mipsmtregs.h b/include/asm-mips/mipsmtregs.h
index f637ce7..3e9468f 100644
--- a/include/asm-mips/mipsmtregs.h
+++ b/include/asm-mips/mipsmtregs.h
@@ -352,6 +352,8 @@
 #define write_vpe_c0_vpecontrol(val)	mttc0(1, 1, val)
 #define read_vpe_c0_vpeconf0()		mftc0(1, 2)
 #define write_vpe_c0_vpeconf0(val)	mttc0(1, 2, val)
+#define read_vpe_c0_count()		mftc0(9, 0)
+#define write_vpe_c0_count(val)		mttc0(9, 0, val)
 #define read_vpe_c0_status()		mftc0(12, 0)
 #define write_vpe_c0_status(val)	mttc0(12, 0, val)
 #define read_vpe_c0_cause()		mftc0(13, 0)