diff --git a/arch/arm/kernel/process.c b/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
index 2b7b017a20cd..48f36246a5d7 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/process.c
@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@ void machine_shutdown(void)
 void machine_halt(void)
 {
 	machine_shutdown();
+	local_irq_disable();
 	while (1);
 }
 
@@ -288,6 +289,7 @@ void machine_restart(char *cmd)
 
 	/* Whoops - the platform was unable to reboot. Tell the user! */
 	printk("Reboot failed -- System halted\n");
+	local_irq_disable();
 	while (1);
 }