diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/apic/io_apic.c b/arch/x86/kernel/apic/io_apic.c
index d6af97fd170a98..f0262cb5657a74 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/apic/io_apic.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/apic/io_apic.c
@@ -1727,9 +1727,10 @@ static bool io_apic_level_ack_pending(struct mp_chip_data *data)
 
 static inline bool ioapic_irqd_mask(struct irq_data *data)
 {
-	/* If we are moving the irq we need to mask it */
+	/* If we are moving the IRQ we need to mask it */
 	if (unlikely(irqd_is_setaffinity_pending(data))) {
-		mask_ioapic_irq(data);
+		if (!irqd_irq_masked(data))
+			mask_ioapic_irq(data);
 		return true;
 	}
 	return false;
@@ -1766,7 +1767,9 @@ static inline void ioapic_irqd_unmask(struct irq_data *data, bool masked)
 		 */
 		if (!io_apic_level_ack_pending(data->chip_data))
 			irq_move_masked_irq(data);
-		unmask_ioapic_irq(data);
+		/* If the IRQ is masked in the core, leave it: */
+		if (!irqd_irq_masked(data))
+			unmask_ioapic_irq(data);
 	}
 }
 #else