diff --git a/arch/i386/kernel/cpu/common.c b/arch/i386/kernel/cpu/common.c
index 1b34c56f8123..8689d62abd4a 100644
--- a/arch/i386/kernel/cpu/common.c
+++ b/arch/i386/kernel/cpu/common.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ static struct cpu_dev __cpuinitdata default_cpu = {
 	.c_init	= default_init,
 	.c_vendor = "Unknown",
 };
-static struct cpu_dev * this_cpu = &default_cpu;
+static struct cpu_dev * this_cpu __cpuinitdata = &default_cpu;
 
 static int __init cachesize_setup(char *str)
 {