CHECK_HMI_INTERRUPT
 END_FTR_SECTION_IFSET(CPU_FTR_HVMODE)
 
-       lbz     r7,PACA_THREAD_MASK(r13)
        ld      r14,PACA_CORE_IDLE_STATE_PTR(r13)
-lwarx_loop2:
-       lwarx   r15,0,r14
-       andis.  r9,r15,PNV_CORE_IDLE_LOCK_BIT@h
+       lbz     r7,PACA_THREAD_MASK(r13)
+
        /*
+        * Take the core lock to synchronize against other threads.
+        *
         * Lock bit is set in one of the 2 cases-
         * a. In the sleep/winkle enter path, the last thread is executing
         * fastsleep workaround code.
         * workaround undo code or resyncing timebase or restoring context
         * In either case loop until the lock bit is cleared.
         */
+1:
+       lwarx   r15,0,r14
+       andis.  r9,r15,PNV_CORE_IDLE_LOCK_BIT@h
        bnel-   core_idle_lock_held
+       oris    r15,r15,PNV_CORE_IDLE_LOCK_BIT@h
+       stwcx.  r15,0,r14
+       bne-    1b
+       isync
 
        andi.   r9,r15,PNV_CORE_IDLE_THREAD_BITS
        cmpwi   cr2,r9,0
         * cr4 - gt or eq if waking up from complete hypervisor state loss.
         */
 
-       oris    r15,r15,PNV_CORE_IDLE_LOCK_BIT@h
-       stwcx.  r15,0,r14
-       bne-    lwarx_loop2
-       isync
-
 BEGIN_FTR_SECTION
        lbz     r4,PACA_SUBCORE_SIBLING_MASK(r13)
        and     r4,r4,r15