DPRINT(("cannot load to [%d], invalid ctx_state=%d\n",
                        req->load_pid,
                        ctx->ctx_state));
-               return -EINVAL;
+               return -EBUSY;
        }
 
        DPRINT(("load_pid [%d] using_dbreg=%d\n", req->load_pid, ctx->ctx_fl_using_dbreg));
        if (task == current || ctx->ctx_fl_system) return 0;
 
        /*
-        * if context is UNLOADED we are safe to go
-        */
-       if (state == PFM_CTX_UNLOADED) return 0;
-
-       /*
-        * no command can operate on a zombie context
+        * we are monitoring another thread
         */
-       if (state == PFM_CTX_ZOMBIE) {
-               DPRINT(("cmd %d state zombie cannot operate on context\n", cmd));
-               return -EINVAL;
+       switch(state) {
+               case PFM_CTX_UNLOADED:
+                       /*
+                        * if context is UNLOADED we are safe to go
+                        */
+                       return 0;
+               case PFM_CTX_ZOMBIE:
+                       /*
+                        * no command can operate on a zombie context
+                        */
+                       DPRINT(("cmd %d state zombie cannot operate on context\n", cmd));
+                       return -EINVAL;
+               case PFM_CTX_MASKED:
+                       /*
+                        * PMU state has been saved to software even though
+                        * the thread may still be running.
+                        */
+                       if (cmd != PFM_UNLOAD_CONTEXT) return 0;
        }
 
        /*