diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/apic_32.c b/arch/x86/kernel/apic_32.c
index 4ca3717b3026..913d9924b101 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/apic_32.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/apic_32.c
@@ -718,6 +718,9 @@ void smp_apic_timer_interrupt(struct pt_regs *regs)
 	 * Besides, if we don't timer interrupts ignore the global
 	 * interrupt lock, which is the WrongThing (tm) to do.
 	 */
+#ifdef CONFIG_X86_64
+	exit_idle();
+#endif
 	irq_enter();
 	local_apic_timer_interrupt();
 	irq_exit();
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/apic_64.c b/arch/x86/kernel/apic_64.c
index 283968d4e024..2e109119f647 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/apic_64.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/apic_64.c
@@ -625,7 +625,9 @@ void smp_apic_timer_interrupt(struct pt_regs *regs)
 	 * Besides, if we don't timer interrupts ignore the global
 	 * interrupt lock, which is the WrongThing (tm) to do.
 	 */
+#ifdef CONFIG_X86_64
 	exit_idle();
+#endif
 	irq_enter();
 	local_apic_timer_interrupt();
 	irq_exit();