diff --git a/arch/ppc64/kernel/setup.c b/arch/ppc64/kernel/setup.c
index e9c24d2..b3ef8df 100644
--- a/arch/ppc64/kernel/setup.c
+++ b/arch/ppc64/kernel/setup.c
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@
 	 * Initialize xmon
 	 */
 #ifdef CONFIG_XMON_DEFAULT
-	xmon_init();
+	xmon_init(1);
 #endif
 	/*
 	 * Register early console
@@ -1343,11 +1343,13 @@
 	/* ensure xmon is enabled */
 	if (p) {
 		if (strncmp(p, "on", 2) == 0)
-			xmon_init();
+			xmon_init(1);
+		if (strncmp(p, "off", 3) == 0)
+			xmon_init(0);
 		if (strncmp(p, "early", 5) != 0)
 			return 0;
 	}
-	xmon_init();
+	xmon_init(1);
 	debugger(NULL);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/arch/ppc64/xmon/start.c b/arch/ppc64/xmon/start.c
index a9265bc..f86b584 100644
--- a/arch/ppc64/xmon/start.c
+++ b/arch/ppc64/xmon/start.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 			      struct tty_struct *tty) 
 {
 	/* ensure xmon is enabled */
-	xmon_init();
+	xmon_init(1);
 	debugger(pt_regs);
 }
 
diff --git a/arch/ppc64/xmon/xmon.c b/arch/ppc64/xmon/xmon.c
index 0553943..45908b1 100644
--- a/arch/ppc64/xmon/xmon.c
+++ b/arch/ppc64/xmon/xmon.c
@@ -2496,15 +2496,25 @@
 	}
 }
 
-void xmon_init(void)
+void xmon_init(int enable)
 {
-	__debugger = xmon;
-	__debugger_ipi = xmon_ipi;
-	__debugger_bpt = xmon_bpt;
-	__debugger_sstep = xmon_sstep;
-	__debugger_iabr_match = xmon_iabr_match;
-	__debugger_dabr_match = xmon_dabr_match;
-	__debugger_fault_handler = xmon_fault_handler;
+	if (enable) {
+		__debugger = xmon;
+		__debugger_ipi = xmon_ipi;
+		__debugger_bpt = xmon_bpt;
+		__debugger_sstep = xmon_sstep;
+		__debugger_iabr_match = xmon_iabr_match;
+		__debugger_dabr_match = xmon_dabr_match;
+		__debugger_fault_handler = xmon_fault_handler;
+	} else {
+		__debugger = NULL;
+		__debugger_ipi = NULL;
+		__debugger_bpt = NULL;
+		__debugger_sstep = NULL;
+		__debugger_iabr_match = NULL;
+		__debugger_dabr_match = NULL;
+		__debugger_fault_handler = NULL;
+	}
 }
 
 void dump_segments(void)
diff --git a/include/asm-ppc64/system.h b/include/asm-ppc64/system.h
index 4104a5d..b9e1835 100644
--- a/include/asm-ppc64/system.h
+++ b/include/asm-ppc64/system.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
 DEBUGGER_BOILERPLATE(debugger_fault_handler)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_XMON
-extern void xmon_init(void);
+extern void xmon_init(int enable);
 #endif
 
 #else