diff --git a/kernel/cpu.c b/kernel/cpu.c
index 306844ed58f..f8f9468d17d 100644
--- a/kernel/cpu.c
+++ b/kernel/cpu.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ static void cpu_hotplug_done(void)
 	mutex_unlock(&cpu_hotplug.lock);
 }
 /* Need to know about CPUs going up/down? */
-int __cpuinit register_cpu_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb)
+int __ref register_cpu_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb)
 {
 	int ret;
 	cpu_maps_update_begin();