diff --git a/arch/powerpc/include/asm/exception-64s.h b/arch/powerpc/include/asm/exception-64s.h
index 05523e825147..ad7340ce5c15 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/include/asm/exception-64s.h
+++ b/arch/powerpc/include/asm/exception-64s.h
@@ -494,9 +494,9 @@ END_FTR_SECTION_NESTED(ftr,ftr,943)
 
 #define __SOFTEN_TEST(h, vec)						\
 	lbz	r10,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13);					\
-	cmpwi	r10,IRQ_DISABLED;				\
+	andi.	r10,r10,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX;				\
 	li	r10,SOFTEN_VALUE_##vec;					\
-	beq	masked_##h##interrupt
+	bne	masked_##h##interrupt
 
 #define _SOFTEN_TEST(h, vec)	__SOFTEN_TEST(h, vec)
 
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/include/asm/hw_irq.h b/arch/powerpc/include/asm/hw_irq.h
index 8abd18c15650..87b3face8e27 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/include/asm/hw_irq.h
+++ b/arch/powerpc/include/asm/hw_irq.h
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
 /*
  * flags for paca->soft_enabled
  */
-#define IRQ_ENABLED	1
-#define IRQ_DISABLED	0
+#define IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE	0
+#define IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX	1
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_PPC64 */
 
@@ -97,12 +97,12 @@ extern void arch_local_irq_restore(unsigned long);
 
 static inline void arch_local_irq_enable(void)
 {
-	arch_local_irq_restore(IRQ_ENABLED);
+	arch_local_irq_restore(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE);
 }
 
 static inline unsigned long arch_local_irq_save(void)
 {
-	return soft_enabled_set_return(IRQ_DISABLED);
+	return soft_enabled_set_return(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX);
 }
 
 static inline void arch_local_irq_disable(void)
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ static inline void arch_local_irq_disable(void)
 
 static inline bool arch_irqs_disabled_flags(unsigned long flags)
 {
-	return flags == IRQ_DISABLED;
+	return flags & IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX;
 }
 
 static inline bool arch_irqs_disabled(void)
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ static inline bool arch_irqs_disabled(void)
 #define hard_irq_disable()	do {			\
 	unsigned long flags;				\
 	__hard_irq_disable();				\
-	flags = soft_enabled_set_return(IRQ_DISABLED);	\
+	flags = soft_enabled_set_return(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX);\
 	local_paca->irq_happened |= PACA_IRQ_HARD_DIS;	\
 	if (!arch_irqs_disabled_flags(flags))		\
 		trace_hardirqs_off();			\
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ static inline void may_hard_irq_enable(void)
 
 static inline bool arch_irq_disabled_regs(struct pt_regs *regs)
 {
-	return (regs->softe == IRQ_DISABLED);
+	return (regs->softe == IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX);
 }
 
 extern bool prep_irq_for_idle(void);
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/include/asm/irqflags.h b/arch/powerpc/include/asm/irqflags.h
index 16eafcec58a4..9ff09747a226 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/include/asm/irqflags.h
+++ b/arch/powerpc/include/asm/irqflags.h
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@
 #define RECONCILE_IRQ_STATE(__rA, __rB)		\
 	lbz	__rA,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13);	\
 	lbz	__rB,PACAIRQHAPPENED(r13);	\
-	cmpwi	cr0,__rA,IRQ_DISABLED;\
-	li	__rA,IRQ_DISABLED;	\
+	andi.	__rA,__rA,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX;\
+	li	__rA,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX;	\
 	ori	__rB,__rB,PACA_IRQ_HARD_DIS;	\
 	stb	__rB,PACAIRQHAPPENED(r13);	\
-	beq	44f;				\
+	bne	44f;				\
 	stb	__rA,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13);	\
 	TRACE_DISABLE_INTS;			\
 44:
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
 
 #define RECONCILE_IRQ_STATE(__rA, __rB)		\
 	lbz	__rA,PACAIRQHAPPENED(r13);	\
-	li	__rB,IRQ_DISABLED;	\
+	li	__rB,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX;	\
 	ori	__rA,__rA,PACA_IRQ_HARD_DIS;	\
 	stb	__rB,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13);	\
 	stb	__rA,PACAIRQHAPPENED(r13)
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/include/asm/kvm_ppc.h b/arch/powerpc/include/asm/kvm_ppc.h
index 76f82014cd80..0e90dbe46b5b 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/include/asm/kvm_ppc.h
+++ b/arch/powerpc/include/asm/kvm_ppc.h
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ static inline void kvmppc_fix_ee_before_entry(void)
 
 	/* Only need to enable IRQs by hard enabling them after this */
 	local_paca->irq_happened = 0;
-	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_ENABLED);
+	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE);
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/entry_64.S b/arch/powerpc/kernel/entry_64.S
index a036ec4fac17..845b37387e47 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/entry_64.S
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/entry_64.S
@@ -130,8 +130,7 @@ END_FW_FTR_SECTION_IFSET(FW_FEATURE_SPLPAR)
 	 */
 #if defined(CONFIG_TRACE_IRQFLAGS) && defined(CONFIG_BUG)
 	lbz	r10,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)
-	xori	r10,r10,IRQ_ENABLED
-1:	tdnei	r10,0
+1:	tdnei	r10,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
 	EMIT_BUG_ENTRY 1b,__FILE__,__LINE__,BUGFLAG_WARNING
 #endif
 
@@ -147,7 +146,7 @@ system_call:			/* label this so stack traces look sane */
 	/* We do need to set SOFTE in the stack frame or the return
 	 * from interrupt will be painful
 	 */
-	li	r10,IRQ_ENABLED
+	li	r10,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
 	std	r10,SOFTE(r1)
 
 	CURRENT_THREAD_INFO(r11, r1)
@@ -767,7 +766,7 @@ resume_kernel:
 	lwz	r8,TI_PREEMPT(r9)
 	cmpwi	cr1,r8,0
 	ld	r0,SOFTE(r1)
-	cmpdi	r0,IRQ_DISABLED
+	cmpdi	r0,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX
 	crandc	eq,cr1*4+eq,eq
 	bne	restore
 
@@ -807,11 +806,11 @@ restore:
 	 */
 	ld	r5,SOFTE(r1)
 	lbz	r6,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)
-	cmpwi	cr0,r5,IRQ_DISABLED
-	beq	.Lrestore_irq_off
+	andi.	r5,r5,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX
+	bne	.Lrestore_irq_off
 
 	/* We are enabling, were we already enabled ? Yes, just return */
-	cmpwi	cr0,r6,IRQ_ENABLED
+	cmpwi	cr0,r6,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
 	beq	cr0,.Ldo_restore
 
 	/*
@@ -830,7 +829,7 @@ restore:
 	 */
 .Lrestore_no_replay:
 	TRACE_ENABLE_INTS
-	li	r0,IRQ_ENABLED
+	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
 	stb	r0,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13);
 
 	/*
@@ -935,7 +934,7 @@ END_FTR_SECTION_IFSET(CPU_FTR_HAS_PPR)
 	beq	1f
 	rlwinm	r7,r7,0,~PACA_IRQ_HARD_DIS
 	stb	r7,PACAIRQHAPPENED(r13)
-1:	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLED
+1:	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX
 	stb	r0,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13);
 	TRACE_DISABLE_INTS
 	b	.Ldo_restore
@@ -1056,15 +1055,15 @@ _GLOBAL(enter_rtas)
 	li	r0,0
 	mtcr	r0
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_BUG	
+#ifdef CONFIG_BUG
 	/* There is no way it is acceptable to get here with interrupts enabled,
 	 * check it with the asm equivalent of WARN_ON
 	 */
 	lbz	r0,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)
-1:	tdnei	r0,IRQ_DISABLED
+1:	tdeqi	r0,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
 	EMIT_BUG_ENTRY 1b,__FILE__,__LINE__,BUGFLAG_WARNING
 #endif
-	
+
 	/* Hard-disable interrupts */
 	mfmsr	r6
 	rldicl	r7,r6,48,1
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/exceptions-64e.S b/arch/powerpc/kernel/exceptions-64e.S
index 1ca9ed89ed0b..6b5f4038e961 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/exceptions-64e.S
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/exceptions-64e.S
@@ -210,10 +210,10 @@ END_FTR_SECTION_IFSET(CPU_FTR_EMB_HV)
 	ld	r5,SOFTE(r1)
 
 	/* Interrupts had better not already be enabled... */
-	twnei	r6,IRQ_DISABLED
+	twnei	r6,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
 
-	cmpwi	cr0,r5,IRQ_DISABLED
-	beq	1f
+	andi.	r6,r5,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX
+	bne	1f
 
 	TRACE_ENABLE_INTS
 	stb	r5,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)
@@ -352,8 +352,8 @@ ret_from_mc_except:
 
 #define PROLOG_ADDITION_MASKABLE_GEN(n)					    \
 	lbz	r10,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13); /* are irqs soft-disabled ? */	    \
-	cmpwi	cr0,r10,IRQ_DISABLED;	/* yes -> go out of line */ \
-	beq	masked_interrupt_book3e_##n
+	andi.	r10,r10,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX;	/* yes -> go out of line */ \
+	bne	masked_interrupt_book3e_##n
 
 #define PROLOG_ADDITION_2REGS_GEN(n)					    \
 	std	r14,PACA_EXGEN+EX_R14(r13);				    \
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/head_64.S b/arch/powerpc/kernel/head_64.S
index a7c69e0a243e..7926e2dc4503 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/head_64.S
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/head_64.S
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ _GLOBAL(pmac_secondary_start)
 	/* Mark interrupts soft and hard disabled (they might be enabled
 	 * in the PACA when doing hotplug)
 	 */
-	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLED
+	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX
 	stb	r0,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)
 	li	r0,PACA_IRQ_HARD_DIS
 	stb	r0,PACAIRQHAPPENED(r13)
@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ __secondary_start:
 	/* Mark interrupts soft and hard disabled (they might be enabled
 	 * in the PACA when doing hotplug)
 	 */
-	li	r7,IRQ_DISABLED
+	li	r7,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX
 	stb	r7,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)
 	li	r0,PACA_IRQ_HARD_DIS
 	stb	r0,PACAIRQHAPPENED(r13)
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ start_here_common:
 	/* Mark interrupts soft and hard disabled (they might be enabled
 	 * in the PACA when doing hotplug)
 	 */
-	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLED
+	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX
 	stb	r0,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)
 	li	r0,PACA_IRQ_HARD_DIS
 	stb	r0,PACAIRQHAPPENED(r13)
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle_book3e.S b/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle_book3e.S
index b25a1aee6e08..a459c306b04e 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle_book3e.S
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle_book3e.S
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ _GLOBAL(\name)
 	bl	trace_hardirqs_on
 	addi    r1,r1,128
 #endif
-	li	r0,IRQ_ENABLED
+	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
 	stb	r0,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)
 	
 	/* Interrupts will make use return to LR, so get something we want
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle_power4.S b/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle_power4.S
index 26b0d6f3f748..785e10619d8d 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle_power4.S
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/idle_power4.S
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ END_FTR_SECTION_IFCLR(CPU_FTR_CAN_NAP)
 	mfmsr	r7
 #endif /* CONFIG_TRACE_IRQFLAGS */
 
-	li	r0,IRQ_ENABLED
+	li	r0,IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
 	stb	r0,PACASOFTIRQEN(r13)	/* we'll hard-enable shortly */
 BEGIN_FTR_SECTION
 	DSSALL
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/irq.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/irq.c
index d482f9a7e6a9..198f4cb3cb5a 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/irq.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/irq.c
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ notrace void arch_local_irq_restore(unsigned long en)
 
 	/* Write the new soft-enabled value */
 	soft_enabled_set(en);
-	if (en == IRQ_DISABLED)
+	if (en == IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX)
 		return;
 	/*
 	 * From this point onward, we can take interrupts, preempt,
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ notrace void arch_local_irq_restore(unsigned long en)
 	}
 #endif /* CONFIG_TRACE_IRQFLAGS */
 
-	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLED);
+	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX);
 
 	/*
 	 * Check if anything needs to be re-emitted. We haven't
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ notrace void arch_local_irq_restore(unsigned long en)
 	replay = __check_irq_replay();
 
 	/* We can soft-enable now */
-	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_ENABLED);
+	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE);
 
 	/*
 	 * And replay if we have to. This will return with interrupts
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ bool prep_irq_for_idle(void)
 	 * of entering the low power state.
 	 */
 	local_paca->irq_happened &= ~PACA_IRQ_HARD_DIS;
-	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_ENABLED);
+	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE);
 
 	/* Tell the caller to enter the low power state */
 	return true;
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/process.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/process.c
index 98fecd5435fb..8b0976d519fa 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/process.c
@@ -1532,7 +1532,7 @@ int copy_thread(unsigned long clone_flags, unsigned long usp,
 			childregs->gpr[14] = ppc_function_entry((void *)usp);
 #ifdef CONFIG_PPC64
 		clear_tsk_thread_flag(p, TIF_32BIT);
-		childregs->softe = IRQ_ENABLED;
+		childregs->softe = IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE;
 #endif
 		childregs->gpr[15] = kthread_arg;
 		p->thread.regs = NULL;	/* no user register state */
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/ptrace.c
index 925a4ef90559..75c10d4aaf30 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -276,6 +276,16 @@ int ptrace_get_reg(struct task_struct *task, int regno, unsigned long *data)
 	if (regno == PT_DSCR)
 		return get_user_dscr(task, data);
 
+	/*
+	 * softe copies paca->soft_enabled variable state. Since soft_enabled is
+	 * no more used as a flag, lets force usr to alway see the softe value as 1
+	 * which means interrupts are not soft disabled.
+	 */
+	if (regno == PT_SOFTE) {
+		*data = 1;
+		return  0;
+	}
+
 	if (regno < (sizeof(struct pt_regs) / sizeof(unsigned long))) {
 		*data = ((unsigned long *)task->thread.regs)[regno];
 		return 0;
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/setup_64.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/setup_64.c
index 4e77972edfac..23a10bb0d5b6 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/setup_64.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/setup_64.c
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ static void __init fixup_boot_paca(void)
 	/* Allow percpu accesses to work until we setup percpu data */
 	get_paca()->data_offset = 0;
 	/* Mark interrupts disabled in PACA */
-	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLED);
+	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX);
 }
 
 static void __init configure_exceptions(void)
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ void __init early_setup(unsigned long dt_ptr)
 void early_setup_secondary(void)
 {
 	/* Mark interrupts disabled in PACA */
-	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLED);
+	soft_enabled_set(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX);
 
 	/* Initialize the hash table or TLB handling */
 	early_init_mmu_secondary();
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/signal_32.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/signal_32.c
index 97bb1385e771..bc1216f9be3c 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/signal_32.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/signal_32.c
@@ -138,12 +138,20 @@ static inline int save_general_regs(struct pt_regs *regs,
 {
 	elf_greg_t64 *gregs = (elf_greg_t64 *)regs;
 	int i;
+	/* Force usr to alway see softe as 1 (interrupts enabled) */
+	elf_greg_t64 softe = 0x1;
 
 	WARN_ON(!FULL_REGS(regs));
 
 	for (i = 0; i <= PT_RESULT; i ++) {
 		if (i == 14 && !FULL_REGS(regs))
 			i = 32;
+		if ( i == PT_SOFTE) {
+			if(__put_user((unsigned int)softe, &frame->mc_gregs[i]))
+				return -EFAULT;
+			else
+				continue;
+		}
 		if (__put_user((unsigned int)gregs[i], &frame->mc_gregs[i]))
 			return -EFAULT;
 	}
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/signal_64.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/signal_64.c
index c83c115858c1..797029edbcb4 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/signal_64.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/signal_64.c
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ static long setup_sigcontext(struct sigcontext __user *sc,
 	struct pt_regs *regs = tsk->thread.regs;
 	unsigned long msr = regs->msr;
 	long err = 0;
+	/* Force usr to alway see softe as 1 (interrupts enabled) */
+	unsigned long softe = 0x1;
 
 	BUG_ON(tsk != current);
 
@@ -169,6 +171,7 @@ static long setup_sigcontext(struct sigcontext __user *sc,
 	WARN_ON(!FULL_REGS(regs));
 	err |= __copy_to_user(&sc->gp_regs, regs, GP_REGS_SIZE);
 	err |= __put_user(msr, &sc->gp_regs[PT_MSR]);
+	err |= __put_user(softe, &sc->gp_regs[PT_SOFTE]);
 	err |= __put_user(signr, &sc->signal);
 	err |= __put_user(handler, &sc->handler);
 	if (set != NULL)
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/time.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/time.c
index f495956a3664..96402dcb38d1 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/time.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/time.c
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ void accumulate_stolen_time(void)
 	 * needs to reflect that so various debug stuff doesn't
 	 * complain
 	 */
-	save_soft_enabled = soft_enabled_set_return(IRQ_DISABLED);
+	save_soft_enabled = soft_enabled_set_return(IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX);
 
 	sst = scan_dispatch_log(acct->starttime_user);
 	ust = scan_dispatch_log(acct->starttime);
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/mm/hugetlbpage.c b/arch/powerpc/mm/hugetlbpage.c
index 07e644766524..4df4925a14d1 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/mm/hugetlbpage.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/mm/hugetlbpage.c
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ void flush_dcache_icache_hugepage(struct page *page)
  * So long as we atomically load page table pointers we are safe against teardown,
  * we can follow the address down to the the page and take a ref on it.
  * This function need to be called with interrupts disabled. We use this variant
- * when we have MSR[EE] = 0 but the paca->soft_enabled = IRQ_ENABLED
+ * when we have MSR[EE] = 0 but the paca->soft_enabled = IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_NONE
  */
 
 pte_t *__find_linux_pte_or_hugepte(pgd_t *pgdir, unsigned long ea,
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/perf/core-book3s.c b/arch/powerpc/perf/core-book3s.c
index 2f9b6e62fcaa..6c6ea1d82dfb 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/perf/core-book3s.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/perf/core-book3s.c
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ static inline void perf_read_regs(struct pt_regs *regs)
  */
 static inline int perf_intr_is_nmi(struct pt_regs *regs)
 {
-	return (regs->softe == IRQ_DISABLED);
+	return (regs->softe == IRQ_DISABLE_MASK_LINUX);
 }
 
 /*
