diff --git a/arch/x86/kvm/pmu.c b/arch/x86/kvm/pmu.c
index b78ad897886d..954622f8f817 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kvm/pmu.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kvm/pmu.c
@@ -1312,13 +1312,15 @@ static void kvm_pmu_load_guest_pmcs(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu)
 	for (i = 0; i < pmu->nr_arch_gp_counters; i++) {
 		pmc = &pmu->gp_counters[i];
 
-		wrmsrl(gp_counter_msr(i), pmc->counter);
+		if (pmc->counter != rdpmc(i))
+			wrmsrl(gp_counter_msr(i), pmc->counter);
 		wrmsrl(gp_eventsel_msr(i), pmc->eventsel_hw);
 	}
 	for (i = 0; i < pmu->nr_arch_fixed_counters; i++) {
 		pmc = &pmu->fixed_counters[i];
 
-		wrmsrl(fixed_counter_msr(i), pmc->counter);
+		if (pmc->counter != rdpmc(INTEL_PMC_FIXED_RDPMC_BASE | i))
+			wrmsrl(fixed_counter_msr(i), pmc->counter);
 	}
 }