diff --git a/mm/sparse.c b/mm/sparse.c
index d7c32de..c5e89eb 100644
--- a/mm/sparse.c
+++ b/mm/sparse.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 	unsigned long array_size = SECTIONS_PER_ROOT *
 				   sizeof(struct mem_section);
 
-	if (system_state == SYSTEM_RUNNING)
+	if (slab_is_available())
 		section = kmalloc_node(array_size, GFP_KERNEL, nid);
 	else
 		section = alloc_bootmem_node(NODE_DATA(nid), array_size);