diff --git a/arch/ia64/kernel/signal.c b/arch/ia64/kernel/signal.c
index edd9f07860b2..b8a0a7d257a9 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/kernel/signal.c
+++ b/arch/ia64/kernel/signal.c
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ restore_sigcontext (struct sigcontext __user *sc, struct sigscratch *scr)
 
 		__copy_from_user(current->thread.fph, &sc->sc_fr[32], 96*16);
 		psr->mfh = 0;	/* drop signal handler's fph contents... */
+		preempt_disable();
 		if (psr->dfh)
 			ia64_drop_fpu(current);
 		else {
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ restore_sigcontext (struct sigcontext __user *sc, struct sigscratch *scr)
 			__ia64_load_fpu(current->thread.fph);
 			ia64_set_local_fpu_owner(current);
 		}
+		preempt_enable();
 	}
 	return err;
 }