diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/paging.h b/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/paging.h
index 8fad4cfc18..f291f2f9a2 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/paging.h
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/paging.h
@@ -118,8 +118,7 @@ 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);
 
     unsigned int guest_levels;
 
@@ -296,7 +295,7 @@ static inline bool paging_flush_tlb(const unsigned long *vcpu_bitmap)
  * 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.
diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/mm/hap/hap.c b/xen/arch/x86/mm/hap/hap.c
index e30f543d2c..9f964c1d87 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/mm/hap/hap.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/mm/hap/hap.c
@@ -707,8 +707,7 @@ static bool cf_check hap_invlpg(struct vcpu *v, unsigned long linear)
     return 1;
 }
 
-static pagetable_t cf_check hap_update_cr3(
-    struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking, bool noflush)
+static pagetable_t cf_check 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);
@@ -794,7 +793,7 @@ static void cf_check 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 8211e77cc7..8aa7b698f8 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/common.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/common.c
@@ -2510,7 +2510,7 @@ 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);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/multi.c b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/multi.c
index 447512870d..90cf0ceaa3 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/multi.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/multi.c
@@ -2475,7 +2475,7 @@ static int cf_check sh_page_fault(
          * 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
@@ -3156,17 +3156,13 @@ sh_update_linear_entries(struct vcpu *v)
     sh_flush_local(d);
 }
 
-static pagetable_t cf_check sh_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking,
-                                          bool noflush)
+static pagetable_t cf_check 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;
@@ -3184,7 +3180,11 @@ static pagetable_t cf_check sh_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking,
         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
@@ -3412,8 +3412,7 @@ static pagetable_t cf_check sh_update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking,
     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 9c4be4562f..2a4005a795 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/none.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/mm/shadow/none.c
@@ -55,8 +55,7 @@ static unsigned long cf_check _gva_to_gfn(
 }
 #endif
 
-static pagetable_t cf_check _update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool do_locking,
-                                        bool noflush)
+static pagetable_t cf_check _update_cr3(struct vcpu *v, bool noflush)
 {
     ASSERT_UNREACHABLE();
     return pagetable_null();