diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/setup_64.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/setup_64.c
index 25e3fd8606ab..f2cd82eaf49d 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/setup_64.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/setup_64.c
@@ -170,6 +170,8 @@ void __init setup_paca(int cpu)
 
 void __init early_setup(unsigned long dt_ptr)
 {
+	/* -------- printk is _NOT_ safe to use here ! ------- */
+
 	/* Fill in any unititialised pacas */
 	initialise_pacas();
 
@@ -185,6 +187,8 @@ void __init early_setup(unsigned long dt_ptr)
 	/* Initialize lockdep early or else spinlocks will blow */
 	lockdep_init();
 
+	/* -------- printk is now safe to use ------- */
+
  	DBG(" -> early_setup(), dt_ptr: 0x%lx\n", dt_ptr);
 
 	/*