diff --git a/arch/x86/kvm/lapic.c b/arch/x86/kvm/lapic.c
index e3099c642fec..929511e01960 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kvm/lapic.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kvm/lapic.c
@@ -1715,7 +1715,7 @@ static void start_sw_period(struct kvm_lapic *apic)
 
 	hrtimer_start(&apic->lapic_timer.timer,
 		apic->lapic_timer.target_expiration,
-		HRTIMER_MODE_ABS);
+		HRTIMER_MODE_ABS_HARD);
 }
 
 bool kvm_lapic_hv_timer_in_use(struct kvm_vcpu *vcpu)