diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/head_32.S b/arch/x86/kernel/head_32.S
index e3725a0f4327..2e8532e7c80a 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/head_32.S
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/head_32.S
@@ -399,18 +399,7 @@ default_entry:
 /*
  * Check if it is 486
  */
-	movl $-1,X86_CPUID	# -1 for no CPUID initially
-	movb $4,X86		# at least 486
-	pushfl			# push EFLAGS
-	popl %eax		# get EFLAGS
-	movl %eax,%ecx		# save original EFLAGS
-	xorl $0x200000,%eax	# flip ID bit in EFLAGS
-	pushl %eax		# copy to EFLAGS
-	popfl			# set EFLAGS
-	pushfl			# get new EFLAGS
-	popl %eax		# put it in eax
-	xorl %ecx,%eax		# change in flags
-	testl $0x200000,%eax	# check if ID bit changed
+	cmpl $-1,X86_CPUID
 	je is486
 
 	/* get vendor info */
@@ -436,7 +425,9 @@ default_entry:
 	movb %cl,X86_MASK
 	movl %edx,X86_CAPABILITY
 
-is486:	movl $0x50022,%ecx	# set AM, WP, NE and MP
+is486:
+	movb $4,X86
+	movl $0x50022,%ecx	# set AM, WP, NE and MP
 	movl %cr0,%eax
 	andl $0x80000011,%eax	# Save PG,PE,ET
 	orl %ecx,%eax