diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h b/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h
index bd45a144ee..493d338a08 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ XEN_CPUFEATURE(SC_MSR_HVM,        X86_SYNTH(17)) /* MSR_SPEC_CTRL used by Xen fo
 XEN_CPUFEATURE(SC_RSB_PV,         X86_SYNTH(18)) /* RSB overwrite needed for PV */
 XEN_CPUFEATURE(SC_RSB_HVM,        X86_SYNTH(19)) /* RSB overwrite needed for HVM */
 XEN_CPUFEATURE(XEN_SELFSNOOP,     X86_SYNTH(20)) /* SELFSNOOP gets used by Xen itself */
-XEN_CPUFEATURE(SC_MSR_IDLE,       X86_SYNTH(21)) /* (SC_MSR_PV || SC_MSR_HVM) && default_xen_spec_ctrl */
+XEN_CPUFEATURE(SC_MSR_IDLE,       X86_SYNTH(21)) /* Clear MSR_SPEC_CTRL on idle */
 XEN_CPUFEATURE(XEN_LBR,           X86_SYNTH(22)) /* Xen uses MSR_DEBUGCTL.LBR */
 /* Bits 23,24 unused. */
 XEN_CPUFEATURE(SC_VERW_IDLE,      X86_SYNTH(25)) /* VERW used by Xen for idle */
diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/spec_ctrl.h b/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/spec_ctrl.h
index 751355f471..7e83e0179f 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/spec_ctrl.h
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/include/asm/spec_ctrl.h
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ static always_inline void spec_ctrl_enter_idle(struct cpu_info *info)
     uint32_t val = 0;
 
     /*
-     * Branch Target Injection:
+     * It is recommended in some cases to clear MSR_SPEC_CTRL when going idle,
+     * to avoid impacting sibling threads.
      *
      * Latch the new shadow value, then enable shadowing, then update the MSR.
      * There are no SMP issues here; only local processor ordering concerns.
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ static always_inline void spec_ctrl_exit_idle(struct cpu_info *info)
     uint32_t val = info->xen_spec_ctrl;
 
     /*
-     * Branch Target Injection:
+     * Restore MSR_SPEC_CTRL on exit from idle.
      *
      * Disable shadowing before updating the MSR.  There are no SMP issues
      * here; only local processor ordering concerns.
diff --git a/xen/arch/x86/spec_ctrl.c b/xen/arch/x86/spec_ctrl.c
index 1f275ad1fb..57f4fcb213 100644
--- a/xen/arch/x86/spec_ctrl.c
+++ b/xen/arch/x86/spec_ctrl.c
@@ -1151,8 +1151,14 @@ void __init init_speculation_mitigations(void)
     /* (Re)init BSP state now that default_spec_ctrl_flags has been calculated. */
     init_shadow_spec_ctrl_state();
 
-    /* If Xen is using any MSR_SPEC_CTRL settings, adjust the idle path. */
-    if ( default_xen_spec_ctrl )
+    /*
+     * For microcoded IBRS only (i.e. Intel, pre eIBRS), it is recommended to
+     * clear MSR_SPEC_CTRL before going idle, to avoid impacting sibling
+     * threads.  Activate this if SMT is enabled, and Xen is using a non-zero
+     * MSR_SPEC_CTRL setting.
+     */
+    if ( boot_cpu_has(X86_FEATURE_IBRSB) && !(caps & ARCH_CAPS_IBRS_ALL) &&
+         hw_smt_enabled && default_xen_spec_ctrl )
         setup_force_cpu_cap(X86_FEATURE_SC_MSR_IDLE);
 
     xpti_init_default(caps);