diff --git a/kernel/kgdb.c b/kernel/kgdb.c
index 29357a9ccfb2..ca21fe98e8de 100644
--- a/kernel/kgdb.c
+++ b/kernel/kgdb.c
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ struct task_struct		*kgdb_usethread;
 struct task_struct		*kgdb_contthread;
 
 int				kgdb_single_step;
+pid_t				kgdb_sstep_pid;
 
 /* Our I/O buffers. */
 static char			remcom_in_buffer[BUFMAX];
@@ -1400,6 +1401,7 @@ kgdb_handle_exception(int evector, int signo, int ecode, struct pt_regs *regs)
 	struct kgdb_state kgdb_var;
 	struct kgdb_state *ks = &kgdb_var;
 	unsigned long flags;
+	int sstep_tries = 100;
 	int error = 0;
 	int i, cpu;
 
@@ -1430,13 +1432,14 @@ kgdb_handle_exception(int evector, int signo, int ecode, struct pt_regs *regs)
 		cpu_relax();
 
 	/*
-	 * Do not start the debugger connection on this CPU if the last
-	 * instance of the exception handler wanted to come into the
-	 * debugger on a different CPU via a single step
+	 * For single stepping, try to only enter on the processor
+	 * that was single stepping.  To gaurd against a deadlock, the
+	 * kernel will only try for the value of sstep_tries before
+	 * giving up and continuing on.
 	 */
 	if (atomic_read(&kgdb_cpu_doing_single_step) != -1 &&
-	    atomic_read(&kgdb_cpu_doing_single_step) != cpu) {
-
+	    (kgdb_info[cpu].task &&
+	     kgdb_info[cpu].task->pid != kgdb_sstep_pid) && --sstep_tries) {
 		atomic_set(&kgdb_active, -1);
 		touch_softlockup_watchdog();
 		clocksource_touch_watchdog();
@@ -1529,6 +1532,13 @@ kgdb_handle_exception(int evector, int signo, int ecode, struct pt_regs *regs)
 	}
 
 kgdb_restore:
+	if (atomic_read(&kgdb_cpu_doing_single_step) != -1) {
+		int sstep_cpu = atomic_read(&kgdb_cpu_doing_single_step);
+		if (kgdb_info[sstep_cpu].task)
+			kgdb_sstep_pid = kgdb_info[sstep_cpu].task->pid;
+		else
+			kgdb_sstep_pid = 0;
+	}
 	/* Free kgdb_active */
 	atomic_set(&kgdb_active, -1);
 	touch_softlockup_watchdog();