diff --git a/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt.c b/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt.c
index c3d5f0236f35..4b01f7dbaf30 100644
--- a/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt.c
+++ b/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt.c
@@ -475,9 +475,10 @@ void __init mem_encrypt_init(void)
 	swiotlb_update_mem_attributes();
 
 	/*
-	 * With SEV, we need to unroll the rep string I/O instructions.
+	 * With SEV, we need to unroll the rep string I/O instructions,
+	 * but SEV-ES supports them through the #VC handler.
 	 */
-	if (sev_active())
+	if (sev_active() && !sev_es_active())
 		static_branch_enable(&sev_enable_key);
 
 	print_mem_encrypt_feature_info();