A method and system for managing sleep states of one or more interrupt controllers of processors contained within a portable computing device are described. The method includes a processor defining wake-up interrupt settings in a storage device contained within the portable computing device. This storage device may comprise message random access memory (“RAM”). After wake-up settings have been established in message RAM, a processor may generate an alert that the wake-up settings in the message RAM have been defined. Next, a controller reviews the wake-up interrupt settings in the message RAM for a plurality of interrupt controllers that correspond with a plurality of processors contained within the portable computing device. The controller merges the wake-up settings in the message RAM and then sends the merged wake-up settings to an always-on power manager (“APM”). The APM is responsible for issuing signals to place interrupt controllers of processors into a sleep state.