diff --git a/arch/arm/kernel/process.c b/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
index 8f146a4b4752..bbea636ff687 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <asm/leds.h>
 #include <asm/processor.h>
 #include <asm/uaccess.h>
+#include <asm/mach/time.h>
 
 extern const char *processor_modes[];
 extern void setup_mm_for_reboot(char mode);
@@ -85,8 +86,10 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(pm_power_off);
 void default_idle(void)
 {
 	local_irq_disable();
-	if (!need_resched() && !hlt_counter)
+	if (!need_resched() && !hlt_counter) {
+		timer_dyn_reprogram();
 		arch_idle();
+	}
 	local_irq_enable();
 }
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/kernel/time.c b/arch/arm/kernel/time.c
index 06054c9ba074..1b7fcd50c3e2 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/time.c
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/time.c
@@ -424,15 +424,19 @@ static int timer_dyn_tick_disable(void)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Reprogram the system timer for at least the calculated time interval.
+ * This function should be called from the idle thread with IRQs disabled,
+ * immediately before sleeping.
+ */
 void timer_dyn_reprogram(void)
 {
 	struct dyn_tick_timer *dyn_tick = system_timer->dyn_tick;
-	unsigned long flags;
 
-	write_seqlock_irqsave(&xtime_lock, flags);
+	write_seqlock(&xtime_lock);
 	if (dyn_tick->state & DYN_TICK_ENABLED)
 		dyn_tick->reprogram(next_timer_interrupt() - jiffies);
-	write_sequnlock_irqrestore(&xtime_lock, flags);
+	write_sequnlock(&xtime_lock);
 }
 
 static ssize_t timer_show_dyn_tick(struct sys_device *dev, char *buf)
diff --git a/include/asm-arm/mach/time.h b/include/asm-arm/mach/time.h
index 047980ad18d1..2cf279a44017 100644
--- a/include/asm-arm/mach/time.h
+++ b/include/asm-arm/mach/time.h
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ struct dyn_tick_timer {
 };
 
 void timer_dyn_reprogram(void);
+#else
+#define timer_dyn_reprogram()	do { } while (0)
 #endif
 
 extern struct sys_timer *system_timer;