diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/opal-nvram.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/opal-nvram.c
index 1bceb95f422d..5584247f5029 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/opal-nvram.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/opal-nvram.c
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ static ssize_t opal_nvram_read(char *buf, size_t count, loff_t *index)
 	return count;
 }
 
+/*
+ * This can be called in the panic path with interrupts off, so use
+ * mdelay in that case.
+ */
 static ssize_t opal_nvram_write(char *buf, size_t count, loff_t *index)
 {
 	s64 rc = OPAL_BUSY;
@@ -58,10 +62,16 @@ static ssize_t opal_nvram_write(char *buf, size_t count, loff_t *index)
 	while (rc == OPAL_BUSY || rc == OPAL_BUSY_EVENT) {
 		rc = opal_write_nvram(__pa(buf), count, off);
 		if (rc == OPAL_BUSY_EVENT) {
-			msleep(OPAL_BUSY_DELAY_MS);
+			if (in_interrupt() || irqs_disabled())
+				mdelay(OPAL_BUSY_DELAY_MS);
+			else
+				msleep(OPAL_BUSY_DELAY_MS);
 			opal_poll_events(NULL);
 		} else if (rc == OPAL_BUSY) {
-			msleep(OPAL_BUSY_DELAY_MS);
+			if (in_interrupt() || irqs_disabled())
+				mdelay(OPAL_BUSY_DELAY_MS);
+			else
+				msleep(OPAL_BUSY_DELAY_MS);
 		}
 	}