diff --git a/target/openrisc/cpu.c b/target/openrisc/cpu.c
index 41d1b2a24a..cb9f35f408 100644
--- a/target/openrisc/cpu.c
+++ b/target/openrisc/cpu.c
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ static void openrisc_cpu_set_irq(void *opaque, int irq, int level)
         cpu_interrupt(cs, CPU_INTERRUPT_HARD);
     } else {
         cpu_reset_interrupt(cs, CPU_INTERRUPT_HARD);
-        cpu->env.picsr = 0;
     }
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/target/openrisc/sys_helper.c b/target/openrisc/sys_helper.c
index da88ad9e77..09b3c97d7c 100644
--- a/target/openrisc/sys_helper.c
+++ b/target/openrisc/sys_helper.c
@@ -139,6 +139,13 @@ void HELPER(mtspr)(CPUOpenRISCState *env, target_ulong spr, target_ulong rb)
         break;
     case TO_SPR(9, 0):  /* PICMR */
         env->picmr = rb;
+        qemu_mutex_lock_iothread();
+        if (env->picsr & env->picmr) {
+            cpu_interrupt(cs, CPU_INTERRUPT_HARD);
+        } else {
+            cpu_reset_interrupt(cs, CPU_INTERRUPT_HARD);
+        }
+        qemu_mutex_unlock_iothread();
         break;
     case TO_SPR(9, 2):  /* PICSR */
         env->picsr &= ~rb;