diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyve/riscv/vmexit.c b/usr.sbin/bhyve/riscv/vmexit.c
index e2efd53bded..233dba9f3c7 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyve/riscv/vmexit.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyve/riscv/vmexit.c
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
 
 #include <vmmapi.h>
 
@@ -135,6 +136,12 @@ vmexit_debug(struct vmctx *ctx __unused, struct vcpu *vcpu __unused,
     struct vm_run *vmrun __unused)
 {
 
+	/*
+	 * XXX-MJ sleep for a short period to avoid chewing up the CPU in the
+	 * window between activation of the vCPU thread and the
+	 * SBI_HSM_HART_START request.
+	 */
+	usleep(1000);
 	return (VMEXIT_CONTINUE);
 }