diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c b/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
index 678d0b8..eff2fe1 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
@@ -1213,11 +1213,12 @@
 
 	total_cpus = max_t(int, possible, num_processors + disabled_cpus);
 
-	if (possible > CONFIG_NR_CPUS) {
+	/* nr_cpu_ids could be reduced via nr_cpus= */
+	if (possible > nr_cpu_ids) {
 		printk(KERN_WARNING
 			"%d Processors exceeds NR_CPUS limit of %d\n",
-			possible, CONFIG_NR_CPUS);
-		possible = CONFIG_NR_CPUS;
+			possible, nr_cpu_ids);
+		possible = nr_cpu_ids;
 	}
 
 	printk(KERN_INFO "SMP: Allowing %d CPUs, %d hotplug CPUs\n",