diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_omap.c b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_omap.c
index 7ecd2d379292..17a230281ebe 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_omap.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_omap.c
@@ -639,17 +639,18 @@ static irqreturn_t omap8250_irq(int irq, void *dev_id)
 	if ((lsr & UART_LSR_OE) && up->overrun_backoff_time_ms > 0) {
 		unsigned long delay;
 
+		/* Synchronize UART_IER access against the console. */
+		spin_lock(&port->lock);
 		up->ier = port->serial_in(port, UART_IER);
 		if (up->ier & (UART_IER_RLSI | UART_IER_RDI)) {
-			spin_lock(&port->lock);
 			port->ops->stop_rx(port);
-			spin_unlock(&port->lock);
 		} else {
 			/* Keep restarting the timer until
 			 * the input overrun subsides.
 			 */
 			cancel_delayed_work(&up->overrun_backoff);
 		}
+		spin_unlock(&port->lock);
 
 		delay = msecs_to_jiffies(up->overrun_backoff_time_ms);
 		schedule_delayed_work(&up->overrun_backoff, delay);