diff --git a/target/arm/helper.c b/target/arm/helper.c
index 40b60b1eea..61e8026d0e 100644
--- a/target/arm/helper.c
+++ b/target/arm/helper.c
@@ -6183,15 +6183,12 @@ int sve_exception_el(CPUARMState *env, int el)
         }
     }
 
-    /*
-     * CPTR_EL2 changes format with HCR_EL2.E2H (regardless of TGE).
-     */
-    if (el <= 2) {
-        uint64_t hcr_el2 = arm_hcr_el2_eff(env);
-        if (hcr_el2 & HCR_E2H) {
+    if (el <= 2 && arm_is_el2_enabled(env)) {
+        /* CPTR_EL2 changes format with HCR_EL2.E2H (regardless of TGE). */
+        if (env->cp15.hcr_el2 & HCR_E2H) {
             switch (FIELD_EX64(env->cp15.cptr_el[2], CPTR_EL2, ZEN)) {
             case 1:
-                if (el != 0 || !(hcr_el2 & HCR_TGE)) {
+                if (el != 0 || !(env->cp15.hcr_el2 & HCR_TGE)) {
                     break;
                 }
                 /* fall through */
@@ -6199,7 +6196,7 @@ int sve_exception_el(CPUARMState *env, int el)
             case 2:
                 return 2;
             }
-        } else if (arm_is_el2_enabled(env)) {
+        } else {
             if (FIELD_EX64(env->cp15.cptr_el[2], CPTR_EL2, TZ)) {
                 return 2;
             }