diff --git a/arch/arm/kernel/process.c b/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
index 3f1f8da..47e34c0 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
 
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		leds_event(led_idle_start);
 		while (!need_resched()) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_HOTPLUG_CPU
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
 			}
 		}
 		leds_event(led_idle_end);
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/avr32/kernel/process.c b/arch/avr32/kernel/process.c
index 6ee7952..34c8c70 100644
--- a/arch/avr32/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/avr32/kernel/process.c
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@
 {
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched())
 			cpu_idle_sleep();
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/blackfin/kernel/process.c b/arch/blackfin/kernel/process.c
index 7b141b5..57e0749 100644
--- a/arch/blackfin/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/blackfin/kernel/process.c
@@ -88,10 +88,10 @@
 #endif
 		if (!idle)
 			idle = default_idle;
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched())
 			idle();
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/microblaze/kernel/process.c b/arch/microblaze/kernel/process.c
index 5407f09..13d59f3 100644
--- a/arch/microblaze/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/microblaze/kernel/process.c
@@ -103,10 +103,10 @@
 		if (!idle)
 			idle = default_idle;
 
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched())
 			idle();
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/process.c b/arch/mips/kernel/process.c
index c11e5ca..17fb3a2 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/process.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched() && cpu_online(cpu)) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_MIPS_MT_SMTC
 			extern void smtc_idle_loop_hook(void);
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 		     system_state == SYSTEM_BOOTING))
 			play_dead();
 #endif
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/openrisc/kernel/idle.c b/arch/openrisc/kernel/idle.c
index fb6a9bf..2e82cd0 100644
--- a/arch/openrisc/kernel/idle.c
+++ b/arch/openrisc/kernel/idle.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 
 		while (!need_resched()) {
 			check_pgt_cache();
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 			set_thread_flag(TIF_POLLING_NRFLAG);
 		}
 
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle.c
index 878572f..2e782a3 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 
 	set_thread_flag(TIF_POLLING_NRFLAG);
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched() && !cpu_should_die()) {
 			ppc64_runlatch_off();
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
 
 		HMT_medium();
 		ppc64_runlatch_on();
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		if (cpu_should_die())
 			cpu_die();
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/iseries/setup.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/iseries/setup.c
index e83dfaf..d69d3d1 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/iseries/setup.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/iseries/setup.c
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@
 static void iseries_shared_idle(void)
 {
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched() && !hvlpevent_is_pending()) {
 			local_irq_disable();
 			ppc64_runlatch_off();
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@
 		}
 
 		ppc64_runlatch_on();
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 
 		if (hvlpevent_is_pending())
 			process_iSeries_events();
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@
 	set_thread_flag(TIF_POLLING_NRFLAG);
 
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		if (!need_resched()) {
 			while (!need_resched()) {
 				ppc64_runlatch_off();
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@
 		}
 
 		ppc64_runlatch_on();
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/s390/kernel/process.c b/arch/s390/kernel/process.c
index 6224f9d..6fa9873 100644
--- a/arch/s390/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/s390/kernel/process.c
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@
 void cpu_idle(void)
 {
 	for (;;) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched())
 			default_idle();
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/sh/kernel/idle.c b/arch/sh/kernel/idle.c
index 6015743..ad58e75 100644
--- a/arch/sh/kernel/idle.c
+++ b/arch/sh/kernel/idle.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
 
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 
 		while (!need_resched()) {
 			check_pgt_cache();
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 			start_critical_timings();
 		}
 
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/sparc/kernel/process_64.c b/arch/sparc/kernel/process_64.c
index 9c2795b..4a0e7d7 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/kernel/process_64.c
+++ b/arch/sparc/kernel/process_64.c
@@ -95,12 +95,12 @@
 	set_thread_flag(TIF_POLLING_NRFLAG);
 
 	while(1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 
 		while (!need_resched() && !cpu_is_offline(cpu))
 			sparc64_yield(cpu);
 
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 
diff --git a/arch/tile/kernel/process.c b/arch/tile/kernel/process.c
index 920e674..53ac895 100644
--- a/arch/tile/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/tile/kernel/process.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
 
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched()) {
 			if (cpu_is_offline(cpu))
 				BUG();  /* no HOTPLUG_CPU */
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
 				local_irq_enable();
 			current_thread_info()->status |= TS_POLLING;
 		}
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/um/kernel/process.c b/arch/um/kernel/process.c
index cfb657e..55d2cf4 100644
--- a/arch/um/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/um/kernel/process.c
@@ -246,10 +246,10 @@
 		if (need_resched())
 			schedule();
 
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		nsecs = disable_timer();
 		idle_sleep(nsecs);
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/arch/unicore32/kernel/process.c b/arch/unicore32/kernel/process.c
index 9999b9a..095ff5a 100644
--- a/arch/unicore32/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/unicore32/kernel/process.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
 {
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched()) {
 			local_irq_disable();
 			stop_critical_timings();
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
 			local_irq_enable();
 			start_critical_timings();
 		}
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/process_32.c b/arch/x86/kernel/process_32.c
index 6d9d4d5..f94da39 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/process_32.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/process_32.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
 
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched()) {
 
 			check_pgt_cache();
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
 				pm_idle();
 			start_critical_timings();
 		}
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c b/arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c
index b069e9d..18e8cf3 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/process_64.c
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
 
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
-		tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+		tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu();
 		while (!need_resched()) {
 
 			rmb();
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@
 			__exit_idle();
 		}
 
-		tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+		tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu();
 		preempt_enable_no_resched();
 		schedule();
 		preempt_disable();
diff --git a/include/linux/tick.h b/include/linux/tick.h
index 0df1d50..327434a 100644
--- a/include/linux/tick.h
+++ b/include/linux/tick.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #define _LINUX_TICK_H
 
 #include <linux/clockchips.h>
+#include <linux/irqflags.h>
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_GENERIC_CLOCKEVENTS
 
@@ -121,18 +122,57 @@
 #endif /* !CONFIG_GENERIC_CLOCKEVENTS */
 
 # ifdef CONFIG_NO_HZ
-extern void tick_nohz_idle_enter(void);
+extern void __tick_nohz_idle_enter(void);
+static inline void tick_nohz_idle_enter(void)
+{
+	local_irq_disable();
+	__tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+	local_irq_enable();
+}
 extern void tick_nohz_idle_exit(void);
+
+/*
+ * Call this pair of function if the arch doesn't make any use
+ * of RCU in-between. You won't need to call rcu_idle_enter() and
+ * rcu_idle_exit().
+ * Otherwise you need to call tick_nohz_idle_enter() and tick_nohz_idle_exit()
+ * and explicitly tell RCU about the window around the place the CPU enters low
+ * power mode where no RCU use is made. This is done by calling rcu_idle_enter()
+ * after the last use of RCU before the CPU is put to sleep and by calling
+ * rcu_idle_exit() before the first use of RCU after the CPU woke up.
+ */
+static inline void tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu(void)
+{
+	/*
+	 * Also call rcu_idle_enter() in the irq disabled section even
+	 * if it disables irq itself.
+	 * Just an optimization that prevents from an interrupt happening
+	 * between it and __tick_nohz_idle_enter() to lose time to help
+	 * completing a grace period while we could be in extended grace
+	 * period already.
+	 */
+	local_irq_disable();
+	__tick_nohz_idle_enter();
+	rcu_idle_enter();
+	local_irq_enable();
+}
+static inline void tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu(void)
+{
+	rcu_idle_exit();
+	tick_nohz_idle_exit();
+}
 extern void tick_nohz_irq_exit(void);
 extern ktime_t tick_nohz_get_sleep_length(void);
 extern u64 get_cpu_idle_time_us(int cpu, u64 *last_update_time);
 extern u64 get_cpu_iowait_time_us(int cpu, u64 *last_update_time);
 # else
-static inline void tick_nohz_idle_enter(void)
+static inline void tick_nohz_idle_enter(void) { }
+static inline void tick_nohz_idle_exit(void) { }
+static inline void tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu(void)
 {
 	rcu_idle_enter();
 }
-static inline void tick_nohz_idle_exit(void)
+static inline void tick_nohz_idle_exit_norcu(void)
 {
 	rcu_idle_exit();
 }
diff --git a/kernel/time/tick-sched.c b/kernel/time/tick-sched.c
index 266c242..c76aefe 100644
--- a/kernel/time/tick-sched.c
+++ b/kernel/time/tick-sched.c
@@ -453,18 +453,22 @@
  *
  * When the next event is more than a tick into the future, stop the idle tick
  * Called when we start the idle loop.
- * This also enters into RCU extended quiescent state so that this CPU doesn't
- * need anymore to be part of any global grace period completion. This way
- * the tick can be stopped safely as we don't need to report quiescent states.
+ *
+ * If no use of RCU is made in the idle loop between
+ * tick_nohz_idle_enter() and tick_nohz_idle_exit() calls, then
+ * tick_nohz_idle_enter_norcu() should be called instead and the arch
+ * doesn't need to call rcu_idle_enter() and rcu_idle_exit() explicitly.
+ *
+ * Otherwise the arch is responsible of calling:
+ *
+ * - rcu_idle_enter() after its last use of RCU before the CPU is put
+ *  to sleep.
+ * - rcu_idle_exit() before the first use of RCU after the CPU is woken up.
  */
-void tick_nohz_idle_enter(void)
+void __tick_nohz_idle_enter(void)
 {
 	struct tick_sched *ts;
 
-	WARN_ON_ONCE(irqs_disabled());
-
-	local_irq_disable();
-
 	ts = &__get_cpu_var(tick_cpu_sched);
 	/*
 	 * set ts->inidle unconditionally. even if the system did not
@@ -473,9 +477,6 @@
 	 */
 	ts->inidle = 1;
 	tick_nohz_stop_sched_tick(ts);
-	rcu_idle_enter();
-
-	local_irq_enable();
 }
 
 /**
@@ -551,7 +552,7 @@
 	ktime_t now;
 
 	local_irq_disable();
-	rcu_idle_exit();
+
 	if (ts->idle_active || (ts->inidle && ts->tick_stopped))
 		now = ktime_get();