diff --git a/xen/arch/arm/guest_walk.c b/xen/arch/arm/guest_walk.c
index e3e21bdad3..4a1b4cf2c8 100644
--- a/xen/arch/arm/guest_walk.c
+++ b/xen/arch/arm/guest_walk.c
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ static int guest_walk_ld(const struct vcpu *v,
      * PTE is invalid or holds a reserved entry (PTE<1:0> == x0)) or if the PTE
      * maps a memory block at level 3 (PTE<1:0> == 01).
      */
-    if ( !lpae_is_mapping(pte, level) )
+    if ( !lpae_is_valid(pte) || !lpae_is_mapping(pte, level) )
         return -EFAULT;
 
     /* Make sure that the lower bits of the PTE's base address are zero. */
diff --git a/xen/arch/arm/mm.c b/xen/arch/arm/mm.c
index 0bc31b1d9b..987fcb9162 100644
--- a/xen/arch/arm/mm.c
+++ b/xen/arch/arm/mm.c
@@ -996,7 +996,7 @@ static int create_xen_entries(enum xenmap_operation op,
     for(; addr < addr_end; addr += PAGE_SIZE, mfn = mfn_add(mfn, 1))
     {
         entry = &xen_second[second_linear_offset(addr)];
-        if ( !lpae_is_table(*entry, 2) )
+        if ( !lpae_is_valid(*entry) || !lpae_is_table(*entry, 2) )
         {
             rc = create_xen_table(entry);
             if ( rc < 0 ) {
diff --git a/xen/arch/arm/p2m.c b/xen/arch/arm/p2m.c
index f8a2f6459e..8fffb42889 100644
--- a/xen/arch/arm/p2m.c
+++ b/xen/arch/arm/p2m.c
@@ -219,6 +219,20 @@ static p2m_access_t p2m_mem_access_radix_get(struct p2m_domain *p2m, gfn_t gfn)
         return radix_tree_ptr_to_int(ptr);
 }
 
+/*
+ * lpae_is_* helpers don't check whether the valid bit is set in the
+ * PTE. Provide our own overlay to check the valid bit.
+ */
+static inline bool p2m_is_mapping(lpae_t pte, unsigned int level)
+{
+    return lpae_is_valid(pte) && lpae_is_mapping(pte, level);
+}
+
+static inline bool p2m_is_superpage(lpae_t pte, unsigned int level)
+{
+    return lpae_is_valid(pte) && lpae_is_superpage(pte, level);
+}
+
 #define GUEST_TABLE_MAP_FAILED 0
 #define GUEST_TABLE_SUPER_PAGE 1
 #define GUEST_TABLE_NORMAL_PAGE 2
@@ -262,7 +276,7 @@ static int p2m_next_level(struct p2m_domain *p2m, bool read_only,
 
     /* The function p2m_next_level is never called at the 3rd level */
     ASSERT(level < 3);
-    if ( lpae_is_mapping(*entry, level) )
+    if ( p2m_is_mapping(*entry, level) )
         return GUEST_TABLE_SUPER_PAGE;
 
     mfn = lpae_get_mfn(*entry);
@@ -642,7 +656,7 @@ static void p2m_free_entry(struct p2m_domain *p2m,
         return;
 
     /* Nothing to do but updating the stats if the entry is a super-page. */
-    if ( lpae_is_superpage(entry, level) )
+    if ( p2m_is_superpage(entry, level) )
     {
         p2m->stats.mappings[level]--;
         return;
@@ -697,7 +711,7 @@ static bool p2m_split_superpage(struct p2m_domain *p2m, lpae_t *entry,
      * a superpage.
      */
     ASSERT(level < target);
-    ASSERT(lpae_is_superpage(*entry, level));
+    ASSERT(p2m_is_superpage(*entry, level));
 
     page = alloc_domheap_page(NULL, 0);
     if ( !page )
@@ -836,7 +850,7 @@ static int __p2m_set_entry(struct p2m_domain *p2m,
         /* We need to split the original page. */
         lpae_t split_pte = *entry;
 
-        ASSERT(lpae_is_superpage(*entry, level));
+        ASSERT(p2m_is_superpage(*entry, level));
 
         if ( !p2m_split_superpage(p2m, &split_pte, level, target, offsets) )
         {
diff --git a/xen/include/asm-arm/lpae.h b/xen/include/asm-arm/lpae.h
index 17fdc6074f..545b0c8f24 100644
--- a/xen/include/asm-arm/lpae.h
+++ b/xen/include/asm-arm/lpae.h
@@ -133,16 +133,19 @@ static inline bool lpae_is_valid(lpae_t pte)
     return pte.walk.valid;
 }
 
+/*
+ * lpae_is_* don't check the valid bit. This gives an opportunity for the
+ * callers to operate on the entry even if they are not valid. For
+ * instance to store information in advance.
+ */
 static inline bool lpae_is_table(lpae_t pte, unsigned int level)
 {
-    return (level < 3) && lpae_is_valid(pte) && pte.walk.table;
+    return (level < 3) && pte.walk.table;
 }
 
 static inline bool lpae_is_mapping(lpae_t pte, unsigned int level)
 {
-    if ( !lpae_is_valid(pte) )
-        return false;
-    else if ( level == 3 )
+    if ( level == 3 )
         return pte.walk.table;
     else
         return !pte.walk.table;
