struct nvkm_alarm *list;
        unsigned long flags;
 
-       alarm->timestamp = nvkm_timer_read(tmr) + nsec;
-
-       /* append new alarm to list, in soonest-alarm-first order */
+       /* Remove alarm from pending list.
+        *
+        * This both protects against the corruption of the list,
+        * and implements alarm rescheduling/cancellation.
+        */
        spin_lock_irqsave(&tmr->lock, flags);
-       if (!nsec) {
-               if (!list_empty(&alarm->head))
-                       list_del(&alarm->head);
-       } else {
+       list_del_init(&alarm->head);
+
+       if (nsec) {
+               /* Insert into pending list, ordered earliest to latest. */
+               alarm->timestamp = nvkm_timer_read(tmr) + nsec;
                list_for_each_entry(list, &tmr->alarms, head) {
                        if (list->timestamp > alarm->timestamp)
                                break;