diff --git a/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8_16.c b/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8_16.c
index 0cdf913eea9..7ea9044dd50 100644
--- a/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8_16.c
+++ b/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8_16.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ static void h8_set_ccr(h83xx_state *h8, UINT8 data)
 	if(h8->ccr & UIFLAG) h8->h8uiflag = 1;
 	if(h8->ccr & IFLAG) h8->h8iflag = 1;
 
-	h8_check_irqs(h8);
+	if (!h8->incheckirqs) h8_check_irqs(h8);
 }
 
 static INT16 h8_getreg16(h83xx_state *h8, UINT8 reg)
@@ -256,6 +256,8 @@ static CPU_RESET(h8)
 	h8->h8err = 0;
 	h8->pc = h8_mem_read32(h8, 0) & 0xffffff;
 
+	h8->incheckirqs = 0;
+
 	// disable timers
 	h8->h8TSTR = 0;
 
@@ -323,6 +325,9 @@ static int h8_get_priority(h83xx_state *h8, UINT8 bit)
 static void h8_check_irqs(h83xx_state *h8)
 {
 	int lv = -1;
+
+	h8->incheckirqs = 1;
+
 	if (h8->h8iflag == 0)
 	{
 		lv = 0;
@@ -377,6 +382,8 @@ static void h8_check_irqs(h83xx_state *h8)
 		if (source != 0xff)
 			h8_GenException(h8, source);
 	}
+
+	h8->incheckirqs = 0;
 }
 
 #define H8_ADDR_MASK 0xffffff
diff --git a/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8_8.c b/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8_8.c
index 7910628270b..e0d2c3e5304 100644
--- a/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8_8.c
+++ b/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8_8.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ static void h8_set_ccr(h83xx_state *h8, UINT8 data)
 	if(h8->ccr & UIFLAG) h8->h8uiflag = 1;
 	if(h8->ccr & IFLAG) h8->h8iflag = 1;
 
-	h8_check_irqs(h8);
+	if (!h8->incheckirqs) h8_check_irqs(h8);
 }
 
 static INT16 h8_getreg16(h83xx_state *h8, UINT8 reg)
@@ -268,6 +268,8 @@ static CPU_RESET(h8bit)
 	h8->h8err = 0;
 	h8->pc = h8_mem_read16(h8, 0);
 
+	h8->incheckirqs = 0;
+
 	// disable timers
 	h8->h8TSTR = 0;
 	h8->FRC = 0;
@@ -341,6 +343,8 @@ static void h8_check_irqs(h83xx_state *h8)
 {
 	int lv = 0;
 
+	h8->incheckirqs = 1;
+
 	if (h8->h8iflag != 0)
 	{
 		lv = 2;
@@ -386,6 +390,8 @@ static void h8_check_irqs(h83xx_state *h8)
 			h8_GenException(h8, source);
 		}
 	}
+
+	h8->incheckirqs = 0;
 }
 
 #define H8_ADDR_MASK 0xffff
diff --git a/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8priv.h b/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8priv.h
index e3fe1c59074..87bfd64aa86 100644
--- a/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8priv.h
+++ b/src/emu/cpu/h83002/h8priv.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ struct _h83xx_state
 	UINT8  ccr;
 	UINT8  h8nflag, h8vflag, h8cflag, h8zflag, h8iflag, h8hflag;
 	UINT8  h8uflag, h8uiflag;
+	UINT8  incheckirqs;
 
 	cpu_irq_callback irq_cb;
 	running_device *device;