diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/irq.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/irq.c
index 2872accd2215..7b2be251c30f 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/irq.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/irq.c
@@ -117,13 +117,6 @@ handle_irq(int irq)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * From here we must proceed with IPL_MAX. Note that we do not
-	 * explicitly enable interrupts afterwards - some MILO PALcode
-	 * (namely LX164 one) seems to have severe problems with RTI
-	 * at IPL 0.
-	 */
-	local_irq_disable();
 	irq_enter();
 	generic_handle_irq_desc(irq, desc);
 	irq_exit();
diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/irq_alpha.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/irq_alpha.c
index 772ddfdb71a8..1216dfb4fcc5 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/irq_alpha.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/irq_alpha.c
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ do_entInt(unsigned long type, unsigned long vector,
 	  unsigned long la_ptr, struct pt_regs *regs)
 {
 	struct pt_regs *old_regs;
+
+	/*
+	 * Disable interrupts during IRQ handling.
+	 * Note that there is no matching local_irq_enable() due to
+	 * severe problems with RTI at IPL0 and some MILO PALcode
+	 * (namely LX164).
+	 */
+	local_irq_disable();
 	switch (type) {
 	case 0:
 #ifdef CONFIG_SMP
@@ -62,7 +70,6 @@ do_entInt(unsigned long type, unsigned long vector,
 	  {
 		long cpu;
 
-		local_irq_disable();
 		smp_percpu_timer_interrupt(regs);
 		cpu = smp_processor_id();
 		if (cpu != boot_cpuid) {