diff --git a/virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic.c b/virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic.c
index 6440b56ec90e..1934dc8a2ce0 100644
--- a/virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic.c
+++ b/virt/kvm/arm/vgic/vgic.c
@@ -196,6 +196,13 @@ static int vgic_irq_cmp(void *priv, struct list_head *a, struct list_head *b)
 	bool penda, pendb;
 	int ret;
 
+	/*
+	 * list_sort may call this function with the same element when
+	 * the list is fairly long.
+	 */
+	if (unlikely(irqa == irqb))
+		return 0;
+
 	spin_lock(&irqa->irq_lock);
 	spin_lock_nested(&irqb->irq_lock, SINGLE_DEPTH_NESTING);