diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event.c
index fac0654021b8..e638689279d3 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event.c
@@ -1288,6 +1288,16 @@ static int x86_pmu_handle_irq(struct pt_regs *regs)
 
 	cpuc = &__get_cpu_var(cpu_hw_events);
 
+	/*
+	 * Some chipsets need to unmask the LVTPC in a particular spot
+	 * inside the nmi handler.  As a result, the unmasking was pushed
+	 * into all the nmi handlers.
+	 *
+	 * This generic handler doesn't seem to have any issues where the
+	 * unmasking occurs so it was left at the top.
+	 */
+	apic_write(APIC_LVTPC, APIC_DM_NMI);
+
 	for (idx = 0; idx < x86_pmu.num_counters; idx++) {
 		if (!test_bit(idx, cpuc->active_mask)) {
 			/*
@@ -1374,8 +1384,6 @@ perf_event_nmi_handler(struct notifier_block *self,
 		return NOTIFY_DONE;
 	}
 
-	apic_write(APIC_LVTPC, APIC_DM_NMI);
-
 	handled = x86_pmu.handle_irq(args->regs);
 	if (!handled)
 		return NOTIFY_DONE;
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_intel.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_intel.c
index 9ae4a2aa7398..e61539b07d2c 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_intel.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_intel.c
@@ -933,6 +933,16 @@ static int intel_pmu_handle_irq(struct pt_regs *regs)
 
 	cpuc = &__get_cpu_var(cpu_hw_events);
 
+	/*
+	 * Some chipsets need to unmask the LVTPC in a particular spot
+	 * inside the nmi handler.  As a result, the unmasking was pushed
+	 * into all the nmi handlers.
+	 *
+	 * This handler doesn't seem to have any issues with the unmasking
+	 * so it was left at the top.
+	 */
+	apic_write(APIC_LVTPC, APIC_DM_NMI);
+
 	intel_pmu_disable_all();
 	handled = intel_pmu_drain_bts_buffer();
 	status = intel_pmu_get_status();
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_p4.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_p4.c
index d1f77e2934a1..e93fcd55fae1 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_p4.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/perf_event_p4.c
@@ -950,11 +950,20 @@ static int p4_pmu_handle_irq(struct pt_regs *regs)
 			x86_pmu_stop(event, 0);
 	}
 
-	if (handled) {
-		/* p4 quirk: unmask it again */
-		apic_write(APIC_LVTPC, apic_read(APIC_LVTPC) & ~APIC_LVT_MASKED);
+	if (handled)
 		inc_irq_stat(apic_perf_irqs);
-	}
+
+	/*
+	 * When dealing with the unmasking of the LVTPC on P4 perf hw, it has
+	 * been observed that the OVF bit flag has to be cleared first _before_
+	 * the LVTPC can be unmasked.
+	 *
+	 * The reason is the NMI line will continue to be asserted while the OVF
+	 * bit is set.  This causes a second NMI to generate if the LVTPC is
+	 * unmasked before the OVF bit is cleared, leading to unknown NMI
+	 * messages.
+	 */
+	apic_write(APIC_LVTPC, APIC_DM_NMI);
 
 	return handled;
 }