diff --git a/bl31/bl31.mk b/bl31/bl31.mk
index 6607dc026..781e5afba 100644
--- a/bl31/bl31.mk
+++ b/bl31/bl31.mk
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ ifeq (${ENABLE_PMF}, 1)
 BL31_SOURCES		+=	lib/pmf/pmf_main.c
 endif
 
+ifeq (${EL3_EXCEPTION_HANDLING},1)
+BL31_SOURCES		+=	bl31/ehf.c
+endif
+
 BL31_LINKERFILE		:=	bl31/bl31.ld.S
 
 # Flag used to indicate if Crash reporting via console should be included
@@ -41,4 +45,7 @@ CRASH_REPORTING		:=	$(DEBUG)
 endif
 
 $(eval $(call assert_boolean,CRASH_REPORTING))
+$(eval $(call assert_boolean,EL3_EXCEPTION_HANDLING))
+
 $(eval $(call add_define,CRASH_REPORTING))
+$(eval $(call add_define,EL3_EXCEPTION_HANDLING))
diff --git a/bl31/bl31_main.c b/bl31/bl31_main.c
index 4a88bd7b5..a34cf86d4 100644
--- a/bl31/bl31_main.c
+++ b/bl31/bl31_main.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <console.h>
 #include <context_mgmt.h>
 #include <debug.h>
+#include <ehf.h>
 #include <platform.h>
 #include <pmf.h>
 #include <runtime_instr.h>
@@ -79,6 +80,11 @@ void bl31_main(void)
 	/* Initialise helper libraries */
 	bl31_lib_init();
 
+#if EL3_EXCEPTION_HANDLING
+	INFO("BL31: Initialising Exception Handling Framework\n");
+	ehf_init();
+#endif
+
 	/* Initialize the runtime services e.g. psci. */
 	INFO("BL31: Initializing runtime services\n");
 	runtime_svc_init();
diff --git a/bl31/ehf.c b/bl31/ehf.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9758d1aab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bl31/ehf.c
@@ -0,0 +1,340 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2017, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Exception handlers at EL3, their priority levels, and management.
+ */
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <cpu_data.h>
+#include <debug.h>
+#include <ehf.h>
+#include <interrupt_mgmt.h>
+#include <platform.h>
+
+/* Output EHF logs as verbose */
+#define EHF_LOG(...)	VERBOSE("EHF: " __VA_ARGS__)
+
+#define EHF_INVALID_IDX	(-1)
+
+/* For a valid handler, return the actual function pointer; otherwise, 0. */
+#define RAW_HANDLER(h) \
+	((ehf_handler_t) ((h & _EHF_PRI_VALID) ? (h & ~_EHF_PRI_VALID) : 0))
+
+#define PRI_BIT(idx)	(((ehf_pri_bits_t) 1) << idx)
+
+/*
+ * Convert index into secure priority using the platform-defined priority bits
+ * field.
+ */
+#define IDX_TO_PRI(idx) \
+	((idx << (7 - exception_data.pri_bits)) & 0x7f)
+
+/* Check whether a given index is valid */
+#define IS_IDX_VALID(idx) \
+	((exception_data.ehf_priorities[idx].ehf_handler & _EHF_PRI_VALID) != 0)
+
+/* Returns whether given priority is in secure priority range */
+#define IS_PRI_SECURE(pri)	((pri & 0x80) == 0)
+
+/* To be defined by the platform */
+extern const ehf_priorities_t exception_data;
+
+/* Translate priority to the index in the priority array */
+static int pri_to_idx(unsigned int priority)
+{
+	int idx;
+
+	idx = EHF_PRI_TO_IDX(priority, exception_data.pri_bits);
+	assert((idx >= 0) && (idx < exception_data.num_priorities));
+	assert(IS_IDX_VALID(idx));
+
+	return idx;
+}
+
+/* Return whether there are outstanding priority activation */
+static int has_valid_pri_activations(pe_exc_data_t *pe_data)
+{
+	return pe_data->active_pri_bits != 0;
+}
+
+static pe_exc_data_t *this_cpu_data(void)
+{
+	return &get_cpu_data(ehf_data);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Return the current priority index of this CPU. If no priority is active,
+ * return EHF_INVALID_IDX.
+ */
+static int get_pe_highest_active_idx(pe_exc_data_t *pe_data)
+{
+	if (!has_valid_pri_activations(pe_data))
+		return EHF_INVALID_IDX;
+
+	/* Current priority is the right-most bit */
+	return __builtin_ctz(pe_data->active_pri_bits);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Mark priority active by setting the corresponding bit in active_pri_bits and
+ * programming the priority mask.
+ *
+ * This API is to be used as part of delegating to lower ELs other than for
+ * interrupts; e.g. while handling synchronous exceptions.
+ *
+ * This API is expected to be invoked before restoring context (Secure or
+ * Non-secure) in preparation for the respective dispatch.
+ */
+void ehf_activate_priority(unsigned int priority)
+{
+	int idx, cur_pri_idx;
+	unsigned int old_mask, run_pri;
+	pe_exc_data_t *pe_data = this_cpu_data();
+
+	/*
+	 * Query interrupt controller for the running priority, or idle priority
+	 * if no interrupts are being handled. The requested priority must be
+	 * less (higher priority) than the active running priority.
+	 */
+	run_pri = plat_ic_get_running_priority();
+	if (priority >= run_pri) {
+		ERROR("Running priority higher (0x%x) than requested (0x%x)\n",
+				run_pri, priority);
+		panic();
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * If there were priority activations already, the requested priority
+	 * must be less (higher priority) than the current highest priority
+	 * activation so far.
+	 */
+	cur_pri_idx = get_pe_highest_active_idx(pe_data);
+	idx = pri_to_idx(priority);
+	if ((cur_pri_idx != EHF_INVALID_IDX) && (idx >= cur_pri_idx)) {
+		ERROR("Activation priority mismatch: req=0x%x current=0x%x\n",
+				priority, IDX_TO_PRI(cur_pri_idx));
+		panic();
+	}
+
+	/* Set the bit corresponding to the requested priority */
+	pe_data->active_pri_bits |= PRI_BIT(idx);
+
+	/*
+	 * Program priority mask for the activated level. Check that the new
+	 * priority mask is setting a higher priority level than the existing
+	 * mask.
+	 */
+	old_mask = plat_ic_set_priority_mask(priority);
+	if (priority >= old_mask) {
+		ERROR("Requested priority (0x%x) lower than Priority Mask (0x%x)\n",
+				priority, old_mask);
+		panic();
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * If this is the first activation, save the priority mask. This will be
+	 * restored after the last deactivation.
+	 */
+	if (cur_pri_idx == EHF_INVALID_IDX)
+		pe_data->init_pri_mask = old_mask;
+
+	EHF_LOG("activate prio=%d\n", get_pe_highest_active_idx(pe_data));
+}
+
+/*
+ * Mark priority inactive by clearing the corresponding bit in active_pri_bits,
+ * and programming the priority mask.
+ *
+ * This API is expected to be used as part of delegating to to lower ELs other
+ * than for interrupts; e.g. while handling synchronous exceptions.
+ *
+ * This API is expected to be invoked after saving context (Secure or
+ * Non-secure), having concluded the respective dispatch.
+ */
+void ehf_deactivate_priority(unsigned int priority)
+{
+	int idx, cur_pri_idx;
+	pe_exc_data_t *pe_data = this_cpu_data();
+	unsigned int old_mask, run_pri;
+
+	/*
+	 * Query interrupt controller for the running priority, or idle priority
+	 * if no interrupts are being handled. The requested priority must be
+	 * less (higher priority) than the active running priority.
+	 */
+	run_pri = plat_ic_get_running_priority();
+	if (priority >= run_pri) {
+		ERROR("Running priority higher (0x%x) than requested (0x%x)\n",
+				run_pri, priority);
+		panic();
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Deactivation is allowed only when there are priority activations, and
+	 * the deactivation priority level must match the current activated
+	 * priority.
+	 */
+	cur_pri_idx = get_pe_highest_active_idx(pe_data);
+	idx = pri_to_idx(priority);
+	if ((cur_pri_idx == EHF_INVALID_IDX) || (idx != cur_pri_idx)) {
+		ERROR("Deactivation priority mismatch: req=0x%x current=0x%x\n",
+				priority, IDX_TO_PRI(cur_pri_idx));
+		panic();
+	}
+
+	/* Clear bit corresponding to highest priority */
+	pe_data->active_pri_bits &= (pe_data->active_pri_bits - 1);
+
+	/*
+	 * Restore priority mask corresponding to the next priority, or the
+	 * one stashed earlier if there are no more to deactivate.
+	 */
+	idx = get_pe_highest_active_idx(pe_data);
+	if (idx == EHF_INVALID_IDX)
+		old_mask = plat_ic_set_priority_mask(pe_data->init_pri_mask);
+	else
+		old_mask = plat_ic_set_priority_mask(priority);
+
+	if (old_mask >= priority) {
+		ERROR("Deactivation priority (0x%x) lower than Priority Mask (0x%x)\n",
+				priority, old_mask);
+		panic();
+	}
+
+	EHF_LOG("deactivate prio=%d\n", get_pe_highest_active_idx(pe_data));
+}
+
+/*
+ * Top-level EL3 interrupt handler.
+ */
+static uint64_t ehf_el3_interrupt_handler(uint32_t id, uint32_t flags,
+		void *handle, void *cookie)
+{
+	int pri, idx, intr, intr_raw, ret = 0;
+	ehf_handler_t handler;
+
+	/*
+	 * Top-level interrupt type handler from Interrupt Management Framework
+	 * doesn't acknowledge the interrupt; so the interrupt ID must be
+	 * invalid.
+	 */
+	assert(id == INTR_ID_UNAVAILABLE);
+
+	/*
+	 * Acknowledge interrupt. Proceed with handling only for valid interrupt
+	 * IDs. This situation may arise because of Interrupt Management
+	 * Framework identifying an EL3 interrupt, but before it's been
+	 * acknowledged here, the interrupt was either deasserted, or there was
+	 * a higher-priority interrupt of another type.
+	 */
+	intr_raw = plat_ic_acknowledge_interrupt();
+	intr = plat_ic_get_interrupt_id(intr_raw);
+	if (intr == INTR_ID_UNAVAILABLE)
+		return 0;
+
+	/* Having acknowledged the interrupt, get the running priority */
+	pri = plat_ic_get_running_priority();
+
+	/* Check EL3 interrupt priority is in secure range */
+	assert(IS_PRI_SECURE(pri));
+
+	/*
+	 * Translate the priority to a descriptor index. We do this by masking
+	 * and shifting the running priority value (platform-supplied).
+	 */
+	idx = pri_to_idx(pri);
+
+	/* Validate priority */
+	assert(pri == IDX_TO_PRI(idx));
+
+	handler = RAW_HANDLER(exception_data.ehf_priorities[idx].ehf_handler);
+	if (!handler) {
+		ERROR("No EL3 exception handler for priority 0x%x\n",
+				IDX_TO_PRI(idx));
+		panic();
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Call registered handler. Pass the raw interrupt value to registered
+	 * handlers.
+	 */
+	ret = handler(intr_raw, flags, handle, cookie);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Initialize the EL3 exception handling.
+ */
+void ehf_init(void)
+{
+	unsigned int flags = 0;
+	int ret __unused;
+
+	/* Ensure EL3 interrupts are supported */
+	assert(plat_ic_has_interrupt_type(INTR_TYPE_EL3));
+
+	/*
+	 * Make sure that priority water mark has enough bits to represent the
+	 * whole priority array.
+	 */
+	assert(exception_data.num_priorities <= (sizeof(ehf_pri_bits_t) * 8));
+
+	assert(exception_data.ehf_priorities);
+
+	/*
+	 * Bit 7 of GIC priority must be 0 for secure interrupts. This means
+	 * platforms must use at least 1 of the remaining 7 bits.
+	 */
+	assert((exception_data.pri_bits >= 1) || (exception_data.pri_bits < 8));
+
+	/* Route EL3 interrupts when in Secure and Non-secure. */
+	set_interrupt_rm_flag(flags, NON_SECURE);
+	set_interrupt_rm_flag(flags, SECURE);
+
+	/* Register handler for EL3 interrupts */
+	ret = register_interrupt_type_handler(INTR_TYPE_EL3,
+			ehf_el3_interrupt_handler, flags);
+	assert(ret == 0);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Register a handler at the supplied priority. Registration is allowed only if
+ * a handler hasn't been registered before, or one wasn't provided at build
+ * time. The priority for which the handler is being registered must also accord
+ * with the platform-supplied data.
+ */
+void ehf_register_priority_handler(unsigned int pri, ehf_handler_t handler)
+{
+	int idx;
+
+	/* Sanity check for handler */
+	assert(handler != NULL);
+
+	/* Handler ought to be 4-byte aligned */
+	assert((((uintptr_t) handler) & 3) == 0);
+
+	/* Ensure we register for valid priority */
+	idx = pri_to_idx(pri);
+	assert(idx < exception_data.num_priorities);
+	assert(IDX_TO_PRI(idx) == pri);
+
+	/* Return failure if a handler was already registered */
+	if (exception_data.ehf_priorities[idx].ehf_handler != _EHF_NO_HANDLER) {
+		ERROR("Handler already registered for priority 0x%x\n", pri);
+		panic();
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Install handler, and retain the valid bit. We assume that the handler
+	 * is 4-byte aligned, which is usually the case.
+	 */
+	exception_data.ehf_priorities[idx].ehf_handler =
+		(((uintptr_t) handler) | _EHF_PRI_VALID);
+
+	EHF_LOG("register pri=0x%x handler=%p\n", pri, handler);
+}
diff --git a/docs/user-guide.rst b/docs/user-guide.rst
index 4df75908c..8ae5e9eaa 100644
--- a/docs/user-guide.rst
+++ b/docs/user-guide.rst
@@ -361,6 +361,11 @@ Common build options
    Firmware as error. It can take the value 1 (flag the use of deprecated
    APIs as error) or 0. The default is 0.
 
+-  ``EL3_EXCEPTION_HANDLING``: When set to ``1``, enable handling of exceptions
+   targeted at EL3. When set ``0`` (default), no exceptions are expected or
+   handled at EL3, and a panic will result. This is supported only for AArch64
+   builds.
+
 -  ``FIP_NAME``: This is an optional build option which specifies the FIP
    filename for the ``fip`` target. Default is ``fip.bin``.
 
diff --git a/include/bl31/ehf.h b/include/bl31/ehf.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..142b4c0aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/bl31/ehf.h
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2017, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+ */
+
+#ifndef __EHF_H__
+#define __EHF_H__
+
+#ifndef __ASSEMBLY__
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <utils_def.h>
+
+/* Valid priorities set bit 0 of the priority handler. */
+#define _EHF_PRI_VALID	(((uintptr_t) 1) << 0)
+
+/* Marker for no handler registered for a valid priority */
+#define _EHF_NO_HANDLER	(0 | _EHF_PRI_VALID)
+
+/* Extract the specified number of top bits from 7 lower bits of priority */
+#define EHF_PRI_TO_IDX(pri, plat_bits) \
+	((pri & 0x7f) >> (7 - plat_bits))
+
+/* Install exception priority descriptor at a suitable index */
+#define EHF_PRI_DESC(plat_bits, priority) \
+	[EHF_PRI_TO_IDX(priority, plat_bits)] = { \
+		.ehf_handler = _EHF_NO_HANDLER, \
+	}
+
+/* Macro for platforms to regiter its exception priorities */
+#define EHF_REGISTER_PRIORITIES(priorities, num, bits) \
+	const ehf_priorities_t exception_data = { \
+		.num_priorities = num, \
+		.ehf_priorities = priorities, \
+		.pri_bits = bits, \
+	}
+
+/*
+ * Priority stack, managed as a bitmap.
+ *
+ * Currently only supports 32 priority levels, allowing platforms to use up to 5
+ * top bits of priority. But the type can be changed to uint64_t should need
+ * arise to support 64 priority levels, allowing platforms to use up to 6 top
+ * bits of priority.
+ */
+typedef uint32_t ehf_pri_bits_t;
+
+/*
+ * Per-PE exception data. The data for each PE is kept as a per-CPU data field.
+ * See cpu_data.h.
+ */
+typedef struct {
+	ehf_pri_bits_t active_pri_bits;
+
+	/* Priority mask value before any priority levels were active */
+	uint8_t init_pri_mask;
+} __aligned(sizeof(uint64_t)) pe_exc_data_t;
+
+typedef int (*ehf_handler_t)(uint32_t intr_raw, uint32_t flags, void *handle,
+		void *cookie);
+
+typedef struct ehf_pri_desc {
+	/*
+	 * 4-byte-aligned exception handler. Bit 0 indicates the corresponding
+	 * priority level is valid. This is effectively of ehf_handler_t type,
+	 * but left as uintptr_t in order to make pointer arithmetic convenient.
+	 */
+	uintptr_t ehf_handler;
+} ehf_pri_desc_t;
+
+typedef struct ehf_priorities {
+	ehf_pri_desc_t *ehf_priorities;
+	unsigned int num_priorities;
+	int pri_bits;
+} ehf_priorities_t;
+
+void ehf_init(void);
+void ehf_activate_priority(unsigned int priority);
+void ehf_deactivate_priority(unsigned int priority);
+void ehf_register_priority_handler(unsigned int pri, ehf_handler_t handler);
+
+#endif /* __ASSEMBLY__ */
+
+#endif /* __EHF_H__ */
diff --git a/include/lib/el3_runtime/cpu_data.h b/include/lib/el3_runtime/cpu_data.h
index bd787ce99..3f48de5ef 100644
--- a/include/lib/el3_runtime/cpu_data.h
+++ b/include/lib/el3_runtime/cpu_data.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2014-2016, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2014-2017, ARM Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
  */
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #ifndef __CPU_DATA_H__
 #define __CPU_DATA_H__
 
+#include <ehf.h>
 #include <platform_def.h>	/* CACHE_WRITEBACK_GRANULE required */
 
 #ifdef AARCH32
@@ -96,6 +97,9 @@ typedef struct cpu_data {
 #if PLAT_PCPU_DATA_SIZE
 	uint8_t platform_cpu_data[PLAT_PCPU_DATA_SIZE];
 #endif
+#if defined(IMAGE_BL31) && EL3_EXCEPTION_HANDLING
+	pe_exc_data_t ehf_data;
+#endif
 } __aligned(CACHE_WRITEBACK_GRANULE) cpu_data_t;
 
 #if CRASH_REPORTING
diff --git a/make_helpers/defaults.mk b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
index 16e7f1c49..7299dc4d0 100644
--- a/make_helpers/defaults.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/defaults.mk
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ ENABLE_RUNTIME_INSTRUMENTATION	:= 0
 # Flag to enable stack corruption protection
 ENABLE_STACK_PROTECTOR		:= 0
 
+# Flag to enable exception handling in EL3
+EL3_EXCEPTION_HANDLING		:= 0
+
 # Build flag to treat usage of deprecated platform and framework APIs as error.
 ERROR_DEPRECATED		:= 0