diff --git a/arch/sim/include/arch.h b/arch/sim/include/arch.h
index 4798968085..3fca68198c 100644
--- a/arch/sim/include/arch.h
+++ b/arch/sim/include/arch.h
@@ -40,14 +40,6 @@
 #ifndef __ARCH_SIM_INCLUDE_ARCH_H
 #define __ARCH_SIM_INCLUDE_ARCH_H
 
-/****************************************************************************
- * Included Files
- ****************************************************************************/
-
-/****************************************************************************
- * Pre-processor Definitions
- ****************************************************************************/
-
 /****************************************************************************
  * Inline functions
  ****************************************************************************/
@@ -61,29 +53,4 @@ static inline uintptr_t sim_getsp(void)
   return (uintptr_t)__builtin_frame_address(0);
 }
 
-/****************************************************************************
- * Public Types
- ****************************************************************************/
-
-/****************************************************************************
- * Public Data
- ****************************************************************************/
-
-/****************************************************************************
- * Public Function Prototypes
- ****************************************************************************/
-
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-#define EXTERN extern "C"
-extern "C"
-{
-#else
-#define EXTERN extern
-#endif
-
-#undef EXTERN
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-}
-#endif
-
 #endif /* __ARCH_SIM_INCLUDE_ARCH_H */
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/up_internal.h b/arch/sim/src/sim/up_internal.h
index 2741c64f6c..ac7d2215e6 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/up_internal.h
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/up_internal.h
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ void sim_cpu0_start(void);
 void up_cpu_started(void);
 int up_cpu_paused(int cpu);
 struct tcb_s *up_this_task(void);
+int up_cpu_set_pause_handler(int irq);
 #endif
 
 /* up_oneshot.c *************************************************************/
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/up_simsmp.c b/arch/sim/src/sim/up_simsmp.c
index 56f8ac6734..478b4d7a1d 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/up_simsmp.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/up_simsmp.c
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ static void *sim_idle_trampoline(void *arg)
 #ifdef CONFIG_SIM_WALLTIME
   uint64_t now = 0;
 #endif
-  sigset_t set;
   int ret;
 
   /* Set the CPU number for the CPU thread */
@@ -137,14 +136,7 @@ static void *sim_idle_trampoline(void *arg)
 
   /* Make sure the SIGUSR1 is not masked */
 
-  sigemptyset(&set);
-  sigaddset(&set, SIGUSR1);
-
-  ret = pthread_sigmask(SIG_UNBLOCK, &set, NULL);
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return NULL;
-    }
+  up_cpu_set_pause_handler(SIGUSR1);
 
   /* Let up_cpu_start() continue */
 
@@ -180,28 +172,6 @@ static void *sim_idle_trampoline(void *arg)
   return NULL;
 }
 
-/****************************************************************************
- * Name: sim_handle_signal
- *
- * Description:
- *   This is the SIGUSR signal handler.  It implements the core logic of
- *   up_cpu_pause() on the thread of execution the simulated CPU.
- *
- * Input Parameters:
- *   arg - Standard sigaction arguments
- *
- * Returned Value:
- *   None
- *
- ****************************************************************************/
-
-static void sim_handle_signal(int signo, siginfo_t *info, void *context)
-{
-  int cpu = (int)((uintptr_t)pthread_getspecific(g_cpu_key));
-
-  up_cpu_paused(cpu);
-}
-
 /****************************************************************************
  * Public Functions
  ****************************************************************************/
@@ -223,8 +193,6 @@ static void sim_handle_signal(int signo, siginfo_t *info, void *context)
 
 void sim_cpu0_start(void)
 {
-  struct sigaction act;
-  sigset_t set;
   int ret;
 
   g_cpu_thread[0] = pthread_self();
@@ -247,26 +215,7 @@ void sim_cpu0_start(void)
 
   /* Register the common signal handler for all threads */
 
-  act.sa_sigaction = sim_handle_signal;
-  act.sa_flags     = SA_SIGINFO;
-  sigemptyset(&act.sa_mask);
-
-  ret = sigaction(SIGUSR1, &act, NULL);
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return;
-    }
-
-  /* Make sure the SIGUSR1 is not masked */
-
-  sigemptyset(&set);
-  sigaddset(&set, SIGUSR1);
-
-  ret = pthread_sigmask(SIG_UNBLOCK, &set, NULL);
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return;
-    }
+  up_cpu_set_pause_handler(SIGUSR1);
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/up_smpsignal.c b/arch/sim/src/sim/up_smpsignal.c
index 0179bbc00e..7417a8740d 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/up_smpsignal.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/up_smpsignal.c
@@ -46,6 +46,32 @@
 #include "sched/sched.h"
 #include "up_internal.h"
 
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Private Functions
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: sim_cpupause_handler
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   This is the SIGUSR signal handler.  It implements the core logic of
+ *   up_cpu_pause() on the thread of execution the simulated CPU.
+ *
+ * Input Parameters:
+ *   irq - the interrupt number
+ *   context  - not used
+ *   arg      - not used
+ *
+ * Returned Value:
+ *   In case of success OK (0) is returned otherwise a negative value.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+static int sim_cpupause_handler(int irq, FAR void *context, FAR void *arg)
+{
+  return up_cpu_paused(this_cpu());
+}
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Public Functions
  ****************************************************************************/
@@ -204,3 +230,22 @@ struct tcb_s *up_this_task(void)
 {
   return this_task();
 }
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: up_cpu_set_pause_handler
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Attach the CPU pause request interrupt to the NuttX logic.
+ *
+ * Input Parameters:
+ *   irq - the SIGUSR1 interrupt number
+ *
+ * Returned Value:
+ *   On success returns OK (0), otherwise a negative value.
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+int up_cpu_set_pause_handler(int irq)
+{
+  up_enable_irq(irq);
+  return irq_attach(irq, sim_cpupause_handler, NULL);
+}