diff --git a/kernel/irq/manage.c b/kernel/irq/manage.c
index 715d4ed0fe88..3cb29835632f 100644
--- a/kernel/irq/manage.c
+++ b/kernel/irq/manage.c
@@ -267,10 +267,16 @@ int irq_do_set_affinity(struct irq_data *data, const struct cpumask *mask,
 		prog_mask = mask;
 	}
 
-	/* Make sure we only provide online CPUs to the irqchip */
+	/*
+	 * Make sure we only provide online CPUs to the irqchip,
+	 * unless we are being asked to force the affinity (in which
+	 * case we do as we are told).
+	 */
 	cpumask_and(&tmp_mask, prog_mask, cpu_online_mask);
-	if (!cpumask_empty(&tmp_mask))
+	if (!force && !cpumask_empty(&tmp_mask))
 		ret = chip->irq_set_affinity(data, &tmp_mask, force);
+	else if (force)
+		ret = chip->irq_set_affinity(data, mask, force);
 	else
 		ret = -EINVAL;