diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_cpupause.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_cpupause.c
index 1e7fca94c1e..1b5726aba9e 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_cpupause.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_cpupause.c
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ int arm_pause_handler(int irq, FAR void *context)
    * been processed then g_cpu_paused[cpu] will not be locked.
    */
 
-  if (!spin_islocked(&g_cpu_paused[cpu]))
+  if (spin_islocked(&g_cpu_paused[cpu]))
     {
       return up_cpu_paused(cpu);
     }