diff --git a/arch/mips/cavium-octeon/setup.c b/arch/mips/cavium-octeon/setup.c
index b0baa299f899..01b1b3f94feb 100644
--- a/arch/mips/cavium-octeon/setup.c
+++ b/arch/mips/cavium-octeon/setup.c
@@ -428,13 +428,16 @@ static void octeon_restart(char *command)
  */
 static void octeon_kill_core(void *arg)
 {
-	mb();
-	if (octeon_is_simulation()) {
-		/* The simulator needs the watchdog to stop for dead cores */
-		cvmx_write_csr(CVMX_CIU_WDOGX(cvmx_get_core_num()), 0);
+	if (octeon_is_simulation())
 		/* A break instruction causes the simulator stop a core */
-		asm volatile ("sync\nbreak");
-	}
+		asm volatile ("break" ::: "memory");
+
+	local_irq_disable();
+	/* Disable watchdog on this core. */
+	cvmx_write_csr(CVMX_CIU_WDOGX(cvmx_get_core_num()), 0);
+	/* Spin in a low power mode. */
+	while (true)
+		asm volatile ("wait" ::: "memory");
 }