diff --git a/cpus.c b/cpus.c
index a810a95b7b..8ee6e5db93 100644
--- a/cpus.c
+++ b/cpus.c
@@ -316,11 +316,26 @@ int64_t cpu_icount_to_ns(int64_t icount)
     return icount << atomic_read(&timers_state.icount_time_shift);
 }
 
+static int64_t cpu_get_ticks_locked(void)
+{
+    int64_t ticks = timers_state.cpu_ticks_offset;
+    if (timers_state.cpu_ticks_enabled) {
+        ticks += cpu_get_host_ticks();
+    }
+
+    if (timers_state.cpu_ticks_prev > ticks) {
+        /* Non increasing ticks may happen if the host uses software suspend.  */
+        timers_state.cpu_ticks_offset += timers_state.cpu_ticks_prev - ticks;
+        ticks = timers_state.cpu_ticks_prev;
+    }
+
+    timers_state.cpu_ticks_prev = ticks;
+    return ticks;
+}
+
 /* return the time elapsed in VM between vm_start and vm_stop.  Unless
  * icount is active, cpu_get_ticks() uses units of the host CPU cycle
  * counter.
- *
- * Caller must hold the BQL
  */
 int64_t cpu_get_ticks(void)
 {
@@ -330,19 +345,9 @@ int64_t cpu_get_ticks(void)
         return cpu_get_icount();
     }
 
-    ticks = timers_state.cpu_ticks_offset;
-    if (timers_state.cpu_ticks_enabled) {
-        ticks += cpu_get_host_ticks();
-    }
-
-    if (timers_state.cpu_ticks_prev > ticks) {
-        /* Note: non increasing ticks may happen if the host uses
-           software suspend */
-        timers_state.cpu_ticks_offset += timers_state.cpu_ticks_prev - ticks;
-        ticks = timers_state.cpu_ticks_prev;
-    }
-
-    timers_state.cpu_ticks_prev = ticks;
+    qemu_spin_lock(&timers_state.vm_clock_lock);
+    ticks = cpu_get_ticks_locked();
+    qemu_spin_unlock(&timers_state.vm_clock_lock);
     return ticks;
 }