A system and method is disclosed for managing system management interrupts in a multiprocessor system. The system described herein includes multiple processors, each of which may be directly coupled to memory. A primary processor will recognize the initiation of a system management interrupt. The primary processor will write a reason code to a storage location and set a watchdog timer, the expiration of which causes all of the processors of the system to enter a system management mode. After all of the processors have entered system management mode, it is determined if the reason code of the storage location corresponds to certain software-based system management interrupts. If so, the system management interrupt is handled by the local processors. Following the handling of the system management interrupt by the local processor, a signal is sent to each of the other processors to cause the processors to exit system management mode.