diff --git a/src/cpu/simple/atomic.cc b/src/cpu/simple/atomic.cc
index 601111588..3ce0ba172 100644
--- a/src/cpu/simple/atomic.cc
+++ b/src/cpu/simple/atomic.cc
@@ -271,6 +271,9 @@ AtomicSimpleCPU::suspendContext(int thread_num)
     assert(thread_num == 0);
     assert(thread);
 
+    if (_status == Idle)
+        return;
+
     assert(_status == Running);
 
     // tick event may not be scheduled if this gets called from inside
diff --git a/src/cpu/simple/timing.cc b/src/cpu/simple/timing.cc
index 1af2ea0ec..64c4108a7 100644
--- a/src/cpu/simple/timing.cc
+++ b/src/cpu/simple/timing.cc
@@ -233,6 +233,9 @@ TimingSimpleCPU::suspendContext(int thread_num)
     assert(thread_num == 0);
     assert(thread);
 
+    if (_status == Idle)
+        return;
+
     assert(_status == Running);
 
     // just change status to Idle... if status != Running,