diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_perf_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_perf_test.c
index c9d9e513ca04457a80f14c6ad2d039dbe677ae12..7b47ae4f952e68a5003092321814c3265d3bc08f 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_perf_test.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/dirty_log_perf_test.c
@@ -18,11 +18,40 @@
 #include "test_util.h"
 #include "perf_test_util.h"
 #include "guest_modes.h"
+
 #ifdef __aarch64__
 #include "aarch64/vgic.h"
 
 #define GICD_BASE_GPA			0x8000000ULL
 #define GICR_BASE_GPA			0x80A0000ULL
+
+static int gic_fd;
+
+static void arch_setup_vm(struct kvm_vm *vm, unsigned int nr_vcpus)
+{
+	/*
+	 * The test can still run even if hardware does not support GICv3, as it
+	 * is only an optimization to reduce guest exits.
+	 */
+	gic_fd = vgic_v3_setup(vm, nr_vcpus, 64, GICD_BASE_GPA, GICR_BASE_GPA);
+}
+
+static void arch_cleanup_vm(struct kvm_vm *vm)
+{
+	if (gic_fd > 0)
+		close(gic_fd);
+}
+
+#else /* __aarch64__ */
+
+static void arch_setup_vm(struct kvm_vm *vm, unsigned int nr_vcpus)
+{
+}
+
+static void arch_cleanup_vm(struct kvm_vm *vm)
+{
+}
+
 #endif
 
 /* How many host loops to run by default (one KVM_GET_DIRTY_LOG for each loop)*/
@@ -206,9 +235,7 @@ static void run_test(enum vm_guest_mode mode, void *arg)
 		vm_enable_cap(vm, &cap);
 	}
 
-#ifdef __aarch64__
-	vgic_v3_setup(vm, nr_vcpus, 64, GICD_BASE_GPA, GICR_BASE_GPA);
-#endif
+	arch_setup_vm(vm, nr_vcpus);
 
 	/* Start the iterations */
 	iteration = 0;
@@ -302,6 +329,7 @@ static void run_test(enum vm_guest_mode mode, void *arg)
 	}
 
 	free_bitmaps(bitmaps, p->slots);
+	arch_cleanup_vm(vm);
 	perf_test_destroy_vm(vm);
 }