diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c b/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
index fb04e49776ba..a84ac7b570e6 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ void __init alternative_instructions(void)
 					    _text, _etext);
 
 		/* Only switch to UP mode if we don't immediately boot others */
-		if (num_possible_cpus() == 1 || setup_max_cpus <= 1)
+		if (num_present_cpus() == 1 || setup_max_cpus <= 1)
 			alternatives_smp_switch(0);
 	}
 #endif