diff --git a/virt/kvm/arm/arch_timer.c b/virt/kvm/arm/arch_timer.c
index 7fc272ecae16..1b1c449ceaf4 100644
--- a/virt/kvm/arm/arch_timer.c
+++ b/virt/kvm/arm/arch_timer.c
@@ -321,14 +321,15 @@ static void kvm_timer_update_irq(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu, bool new_level,
 	}
 }
 
+/* Only called for a fully emulated timer */
 static void timer_emulate(struct arch_timer_context *ctx)
 {
 	bool should_fire = kvm_timer_should_fire(ctx);
 
 	trace_kvm_timer_emulate(ctx, should_fire);
 
-	if (should_fire) {
-		kvm_timer_update_irq(ctx->vcpu, true, ctx);
+	if (should_fire != ctx->irq.level) {
+		kvm_timer_update_irq(ctx->vcpu, should_fire, ctx);
 		return;
 	}