diff --git a/kernel/cpu.c b/kernel/cpu.c
index 74cfdb66a9bdd..3d2bf1d50a0c4 100644
--- a/kernel/cpu.c
+++ b/kernel/cpu.c
@@ -1859,6 +1859,9 @@ static inline bool cpuhp_bringup_cpus_parallel(unsigned int ncpus) { return fals
 
 void __init bringup_nonboot_cpus(unsigned int max_cpus)
 {
+	if (!max_cpus)
+		return;
+
 	/* Try parallel bringup optimization if enabled */
 	if (cpuhp_bringup_cpus_parallel(max_cpus))
 		return;