diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c b/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
index 763d815e27a0..37462f1ddba5 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
@@ -1215,9 +1215,17 @@ __init void prefill_possible_map(void)
 	if (!num_processors)
 		num_processors = 1;
 
-	if (setup_possible_cpus == -1)
-		possible = num_processors + disabled_cpus;
-	else
+	i = setup_max_cpus ?: 1;
+	if (setup_possible_cpus == -1) {
+		possible = num_processors;
+#ifdef CONFIG_HOTPLUG_CPU
+		if (setup_max_cpus)
+			possible += disabled_cpus;
+#else
+		if (possible > i)
+			possible = i;
+#endif
+	} else
 		possible = setup_possible_cpus;
 
 	total_cpus = max_t(int, possible, num_processors + disabled_cpus);
@@ -1230,11 +1238,23 @@ __init void prefill_possible_map(void)
 		possible = nr_cpu_ids;
 	}
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_HOTPLUG_CPU
+	if (!setup_max_cpus)
+#endif
+	if (possible > i) {
+		printk(KERN_WARNING
+			"%d Processors exceeds max_cpus limit of %u\n",
+			possible, setup_max_cpus);
+		possible = i;
+	}
+
 	printk(KERN_INFO "SMP: Allowing %d CPUs, %d hotplug CPUs\n",
 		possible, max_t(int, possible - num_processors, 0));
 
 	for (i = 0; i < possible; i++)
 		set_cpu_possible(i, true);
+	for (; i < NR_CPUS; i++)
+		set_cpu_possible(i, false);
 
 	nr_cpu_ids = possible;
 }