diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/time.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/time.c
index 4bbeb8644d3d..b4472288e0d4 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/time.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/time.c
@@ -458,6 +458,10 @@ DEFINE_PER_CPU(u8, irq_work_pending);
 
 #endif /* 32 vs 64 bit */
 
+/*
+ * Must be called with preemption disabled since it updates
+ * per-CPU irq_work state and programs the local CPU decrementer.
+ */
 void arch_irq_work_raise(void)
 {
 	/*
@@ -471,10 +475,8 @@ void arch_irq_work_raise(void)
 	 * which could get tangled up if we're messing with the same state
 	 * here.
 	 */
-	preempt_disable();
 	set_irq_work_pending_flag();
 	set_dec(1);
-	preempt_enable();
 }
 
 static void set_dec_or_work(u64 val)