diff --git a/arch/sh/kernel/process.c b/arch/sh/kernel/process.c
index 6b4f5748d0be..a11e2aa73cbc 100644
--- a/arch/sh/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/sh/kernel/process.c
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@
 static int hlt_counter;
 int ubc_usercnt = 0;
 
-#define HARD_IDLE_TIMEOUT (HZ / 3)
-
 void (*pm_idle)(void);
 void (*pm_power_off)(void);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(pm_power_off);
@@ -44,16 +42,39 @@ void enable_hlt(void)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(enable_hlt);
 
+static int __init nohlt_setup(char *__unused)
+{
+	hlt_counter = 1;
+	return 1;
+}
+__setup("nohlt", nohlt_setup);
+
+static int __init hlt_setup(char *__unused)
+{
+	hlt_counter = 0;
+	return 1;
+}
+__setup("hlt", hlt_setup);
+
 void default_idle(void)
 {
-	if (!hlt_counter)
-		cpu_sleep();
-	else
-		cpu_relax();
+	if (!hlt_counter) {
+		clear_thread_flag(TIF_POLLING_NRFLAG);
+		smp_mb__after_clear_bit();
+		set_bl_bit();
+		while (!need_resched())
+			cpu_sleep();
+		clear_bl_bit();
+		set_thread_flag(TIF_POLLING_NRFLAG);
+	} else
+		while (!need_resched())
+			cpu_relax();
 }
 
 void cpu_idle(void)
 {
+	set_thread_flag(TIF_POLLING_NRFLAG);
+
 	/* endless idle loop with no priority at all */
 	while (1) {
 		void (*idle)(void) = pm_idle;