diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/dumpstack_32.c b/arch/x86/kernel/dumpstack_32.c
index a29b88f..7c7d691 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/dumpstack_32.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/dumpstack_32.c
@@ -289,21 +289,24 @@
 
 unsigned __kprobes long oops_begin(void)
 {
+	int cpu;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
 	oops_enter();
 
-	if (die_owner != raw_smp_processor_id()) {
-		console_verbose();
-		raw_local_irq_save(flags);
-		__raw_spin_lock(&die_lock);
-		die_owner = smp_processor_id();
-		die_nest_count = 0;
-		bust_spinlocks(1);
-	} else {
-		raw_local_irq_save(flags);
+	/* racy, but better than risking deadlock. */
+	raw_local_irq_save(flags);
+	cpu = smp_processor_id();
+	if (!__raw_spin_trylock(&die_lock)) {
+		if (cpu == die_owner)
+			/* nested oops. should stop eventually */;
+		else
+			__raw_spin_lock(&die_lock);
 	}
 	die_nest_count++;
+	die_owner = cpu;
+	console_verbose();
+	bust_spinlocks(1);
 	return flags;
 }
 
@@ -315,13 +318,15 @@
 	bust_spinlocks(0);
 	die_owner = -1;
 	add_taint(TAINT_DIE);
-	__raw_spin_unlock(&die_lock);
+	die_nest_count--;
+	if (!die_nest_count)
+		/* Nest count reaches zero, release the lock. */
+		__raw_spin_unlock(&die_lock);
 	raw_local_irq_restore(flags);
-
 	oops_exit();
+
 	if (!signr)
 		return;
-
 	if (in_interrupt())
 		panic("Fatal exception in interrupt");
 	if (panic_on_oops)