diff --git a/arch/arm/kvm/arm.c b/arch/arm/kvm/arm.c
index 2a700e00528d..151eb9160482 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kvm/arm.c
+++ b/arch/arm/kvm/arm.c
@@ -478,15 +478,6 @@ static int kvm_vcpu_first_run_init(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu)
 			return ret;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * Handle the "start in power-off" case by calling into the
-	 * PSCI code.
-	 */
-	if (test_and_clear_bit(KVM_ARM_VCPU_POWER_OFF, vcpu->arch.features)) {
-		*vcpu_reg(vcpu, 0) = KVM_PSCI_FN_CPU_OFF;
-		kvm_psci_call(vcpu);
-	}
-
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -700,6 +691,24 @@ int kvm_vm_ioctl_irq_line(struct kvm *kvm, struct kvm_irq_level *irq_level,
 	return -EINVAL;
 }
 
+static int kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_vcpu_init(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu,
+					 struct kvm_vcpu_init *init)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = kvm_vcpu_set_target(vcpu, init);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
+	/*
+	 * Handle the "start in power-off" case by marking the VCPU as paused.
+	 */
+	if (__test_and_clear_bit(KVM_ARM_VCPU_POWER_OFF, vcpu->arch.features))
+		vcpu->arch.pause = true;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 long kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl(struct file *filp,
 			 unsigned int ioctl, unsigned long arg)
 {
@@ -713,8 +722,7 @@ long kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl(struct file *filp,
 		if (copy_from_user(&init, argp, sizeof(init)))
 			return -EFAULT;
 
-		return kvm_vcpu_set_target(vcpu, &init);
-
+		return kvm_arch_vcpu_ioctl_vcpu_init(vcpu, &init);
 	}
 	case KVM_SET_ONE_REG:
 	case KVM_GET_ONE_REG: {
diff --git a/arch/arm/kvm/psci.c b/arch/arm/kvm/psci.c
index 0881bf169fbc..448f60e8d23c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kvm/psci.c
+++ b/arch/arm/kvm/psci.c
@@ -54,15 +54,15 @@ static unsigned long kvm_psci_vcpu_on(struct kvm_vcpu *source_vcpu)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!vcpu)
+	/*
+	 * Make sure the caller requested a valid CPU and that the CPU is
+	 * turned off.
+	 */
+	if (!vcpu || !vcpu->arch.pause)
 		return KVM_PSCI_RET_INVAL;
 
 	target_pc = *vcpu_reg(source_vcpu, 2);
 
-	wq = kvm_arch_vcpu_wq(vcpu);
-	if (!waitqueue_active(wq))
-		return KVM_PSCI_RET_INVAL;
-
 	kvm_reset_vcpu(vcpu);
 
 	/* Gracefully handle Thumb2 entry point */
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ static unsigned long kvm_psci_vcpu_on(struct kvm_vcpu *source_vcpu)
 	vcpu->arch.pause = false;
 	smp_mb();		/* Make sure the above is visible */
 
+	wq = kvm_arch_vcpu_wq(vcpu);
 	wake_up_interruptible(wq);
 
 	return KVM_PSCI_RET_SUCCESS;