diff --git a/kernel/src/requests.rs b/kernel/src/requests.rs
index 9b797e7eb..e3c382c79 100644
--- a/kernel/src/requests.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/requests.rs
@@ -134,6 +134,15 @@ pub fn request_loop() {
         // the guest to execute.  When halting, assume that the hypervisor
         // will schedule the guest VMPL on its own.
         if update_mappings().is_ok() {
+            // Process any pending #HV events before leaving the SVSM.  This
+            // must be done before updating guest APIC state so that any
+            // additional guest APIC updates generated by the host will block
+            // the VMPL transition and permit reevaluation of guest APIC
+            // state.
+            if let Some(hv_doorbell) = this_cpu().hv_doorbell() {
+                hv_doorbell.process_pending_events();
+            }
+
             // Make VMSA runnable again by setting EFER.SVME.  This requires a
             // separate scope so the CPU reference does not outlive the use of
             // the VMSA reference.
diff --git a/kernel/src/sev/ghcb.rs b/kernel/src/sev/ghcb.rs
index a838e0513..58bde7eba 100644
--- a/kernel/src/sev/ghcb.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/sev/ghcb.rs
@@ -693,13 +693,7 @@ pub fn switch_to_vmpl(vmpl: u32) {
     // correctly block the VMPL switch so that events can be processed.
     let hv_doorbell = this_cpu().hv_doorbell();
     let ptr = match hv_doorbell {
-        Some(doorbell) => {
-            // Process any pending #HV events before leaving the SVSM.  No event
-            // can cancel the request to enter the guest VMPL, so proceed with
-            // guest entry once events have been handled.
-            doorbell.process_pending_events();
-            ptr::from_ref(doorbell)
-        }
+        Some(doorbell) => ptr::from_ref(doorbell),
         None => ptr::null(),
     };
     unsafe {