diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_crtc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_crtc.c
index 00798247190b..e3c47a8005ff 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_crtc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_crtc.c
@@ -350,11 +350,15 @@ static int omap_crtc_page_flip_locked(struct drm_crtc *crtc,
 	struct omap_crtc *omap_crtc = to_omap_crtc(crtc);
 	struct drm_plane *primary = crtc->primary;
 	struct drm_gem_object *bo;
+	unsigned long flags;
 
 	DBG("%d -> %d (event=%p)", primary->fb ? primary->fb->base.id : -1,
 			fb->base.id, event);
 
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&dev->event_lock, flags);
+
 	if (omap_crtc->old_fb) {
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&dev->event_lock, flags);
 		dev_err(dev->dev, "already a pending flip\n");
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
@@ -362,6 +366,8 @@ static int omap_crtc_page_flip_locked(struct drm_crtc *crtc,
 	omap_crtc->event = event;
 	omap_crtc->old_fb = primary->fb = fb;
 
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&dev->event_lock, flags);
+
 	/*
 	 * Hold a reference temporarily until the crtc is updated
 	 * and takes the reference to the bo.  This avoids it