diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/mm/hap/hap.c b/xen/arch/x86/mm/hap/hap.c
index fa479d3d97..63c29da696 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/mm/hap/hap.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/mm/hap/hap.c
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ static bool_t hap_invlpg(struct vcpu *v, unsigned long linear)
     return 1;
 }
 
-static pagetable_t hap_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking, bool noflush)
+static pagetable_t hap_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool noflush)
 {
     v->arch.hvm.hw_cr[3] = v->arch.hvm.guest_cr[3];
     hvm_update_guest_cr3(v, noflush);
@@ -818,7 +818,7 @@ static void hap_update_paging_modes(struct vcpu *v)
     }
 
     /* CR3 is effectively updated by a mode change. Flush ASIDs, etc. */
-    hap_update_cr3(v, 0, false);
+    hap_update_cr3(v, false);
 
  unlock:
     paging_unlock(d);
diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/common.c b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/common.c
index 242b93537f..a8869a3fb7 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/common.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/common.c
@@ -2563,7 +2563,7 @@ static void sh_update_paging_modes(struct vcpu *v)
     }
 #endif /* OOS */
 
-    v->arch.paging.mode->update_cr3(v, 0, false);
+    v->arch.paging.mode->update_cr3(v, false);
 }
 
 void shadow_update_paging_modes(struct vcpu *v)
diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/multi.c b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/multi.c
index cf3ded70e7..78bb89f1ee 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/multi.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/multi.c
@@ -2499,7 +2499,7 @@ static int sh_page_fault(struct vcpu *v,
          * In any case, in the PAE case, the ASSERT is not true; it can
          * happen because of actions the guest is taking. */
 #if GUEST_PAGING_LEVELS == 3
-        v->arch.paging.mode->update_cr3(v, 0, false);
+        v->arch.paging.mode->update_cr3(v, false);
 #else
         ASSERT(d->is_shutting_down);
 #endif
@@ -3219,17 +3219,13 @@ sh_detach_old_tables(struct vcpu *v)
     }
 }
 
-static pagetable_t
-sh_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking, bool noflush)
+static pagetable_t sh_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool noflush)
 /* Updates vcpu->arch.cr3 after the guest has changed CR3.
  * Paravirtual guests should set v->arch.guest_table (and guest_table_user,
  * if appropriate).
  * HVM guests should also make sure hvm_get_guest_cntl_reg(v, 3) works;
  * this function will call hvm_update_guest_cr(v, 3) to tell them where the
  * shadow tables are.
- * If do_locking != 0, assume we are being called from outside the
- * shadow code, and must take and release the paging lock; otherwise
- * that is the caller's responsibility.
  */
 {
     struct domain *d = v->domain;
@@ -3247,7 +3243,11 @@ sh_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking, bool noflush)
         return old_entry;
     }
 
-    if ( do_locking ) paging_lock(v->domain);
+    /*
+     * This is used externally (with the paging lock not taken) and internally
+     * by the shadow code (with the lock already taken).
+     */
+    paging_lock_recursive(v->domain);
 
 #if (SHADOW_OPTIMIZATIONS & SHOPT_OUT_OF_SYNC)
     /* Need to resync all the shadow entries on a TLB flush.  Resync
@@ -3483,8 +3483,7 @@ sh_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking, bool noflush)
     shadow_sync_other_vcpus(v);
 #endif
 
-    /* Release the lock, if we took it (otherwise it's the caller's problem) */
-    if ( do_locking ) paging_unlock(v->domain);
+    paging_unlock(v->domain);
 
     return old_entry;
 }
diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/none.c b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/none.c
index 2a5fd409b2..0035369808 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/none.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/none.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ static unsigned long _gva_to_gfn(struct vcpu *v, struct p2m_domain *p2m,
 }
 #endif
 
-static pagetable_t _update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking, bool noflush)
+static pagetable_t _update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool noflush)
 {
     ASSERT_UNREACHABLE();
     return pagetable_null();
diff --git a/xen/include/asm-x86/paging.h b/xen/include/asm-x86/paging.h
index fceb208d36..bd7c7008ae 100644
--- a/xen/include/asm-x86/paging.h
+++ b/xen/include/asm-x86/paging.h
@@ -138,8 +138,7 @@ struct paging_mode {
                                             paddr_t ga, uint32_t *pfec,
                                             unsigned int *page_order);
 #endif
-    pagetable_t   (*update_cr3            )(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking,
-                                            bool noflush);
+    pagetable_t   (*update_cr3            )(struct vcpu *v, bool noflush);
     void          (*update_paging_modes   )(struct vcpu *v);
     bool          (*flush_tlb             )(bool (*flush_vcpu)(void *ctxt,
                                                                struct vcpu *v),
@@ -317,7 +316,7 @@ static inline unsigned long paging_ga_to_gfn_cr3(struct vcpu *v,
  * as the value to load into the host CR3 to schedule this vcpu */
 static inline pagetable_t paging_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool noflush)
 {
-    return paging_get_hostmode(v)->update_cr3(v, 1, noflush);
+    return paging_get_hostmode(v)->update_cr3(v, noflush);
 }
 
 /* Update all the things that are derived from the guest's CR0/CR3/CR4.