diff --git a/arch/cris/arch-v32/kernel/process.c b/arch/cris/arch-v32/kernel/process.c
index cebd32e2a8fb912b01c007de6756d5f129a52ca9..c7ce784a393cc24bfaa1a03ba6a486fff9e33363 100644
--- a/arch/cris/arch-v32/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/cris/arch-v32/kernel/process.c
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ extern void stop_watchdog(void);
 /* We use this if we don't have any better idle routine. */
 void default_idle(void)
 {
+	local_irq_enable();
 	/* Halt until exception. */
-	__asm__ volatile("ei    \n\t"
-			 "halt      ");
+	__asm__ volatile("halt");
 }
 
 /*