diff --git a/arch/i386/kernel/apic.c b/arch/i386/kernel/apic.c
index f9fff29..3d67ae1 100644
--- a/arch/i386/kernel/apic.c
+++ b/arch/i386/kernel/apic.c
@@ -1085,7 +1085,7 @@
 	if (l & MSR_IA32_APICBASE_ENABLE)
 		mp_lapic_addr = l & MSR_IA32_APICBASE_BASE;
 
-	if (nmi_watchdog != NMI_NONE)
+	if (nmi_watchdog != NMI_NONE && nmi_watchdog != NMI_DISABLED)
 		nmi_watchdog = NMI_LOCAL_APIC;
 
 	printk(KERN_INFO "Found and enabled local APIC!\n");
diff --git a/arch/i386/kernel/nmi.c b/arch/i386/kernel/nmi.c
index 99beac7..8c1c965 100644
--- a/arch/i386/kernel/nmi.c
+++ b/arch/i386/kernel/nmi.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 	unsigned int *prev_nmi_count;
 	int cpu;
 
-	if ((nmi_watchdog == NMI_NONE) || (nmi_watchdog == NMI_DEFAULT))
+	if ((nmi_watchdog == NMI_NONE) || (nmi_watchdog == NMI_DISABLED))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (!atomic_read(&nmi_active))
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@
 	if (!!old_state == !!nmi_watchdog_enabled)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (atomic_read(&nmi_active) < 0) {
+	if (atomic_read(&nmi_active) < 0 || nmi_watchdog == NMI_DISABLED) {
 		printk( KERN_WARNING "NMI watchdog is permanently disabled\n");
 		return -EIO;
 	}
diff --git a/arch/x86_64/kernel/nmi.c b/arch/x86_64/kernel/nmi.c
index cb8ee9d0..0ec6d2d 100644
--- a/arch/x86_64/kernel/nmi.c
+++ b/arch/x86_64/kernel/nmi.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
 	int *counts;
 	int cpu;
 
-	if ((nmi_watchdog == NMI_NONE) || (nmi_watchdog == NMI_DEFAULT))
+	if ((nmi_watchdog == NMI_NONE) || (nmi_watchdog == NMI_DISABLED)) 
 		return 0;
 
 	if (!atomic_read(&nmi_active))
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@
 	if (!!old_state == !!nmi_watchdog_enabled)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (atomic_read(&nmi_active) < 0) {
+	if (atomic_read(&nmi_active) < 0 || nmi_watchdog == NMI_DISABLED) {
 		printk( KERN_WARNING "NMI watchdog is permanently disabled\n");
 		return -EIO;
 	}
diff --git a/include/asm-i386/nmi.h b/include/asm-i386/nmi.h
index ff30c98..70a958a 100644
--- a/include/asm-i386/nmi.h
+++ b/include/asm-i386/nmi.h
@@ -33,11 +33,12 @@
 
 extern atomic_t nmi_active;
 extern unsigned int nmi_watchdog;
-#define NMI_DEFAULT     -1
+#define NMI_DISABLED    -1
 #define NMI_NONE	0
 #define NMI_IO_APIC	1
 #define NMI_LOCAL_APIC	2
 #define NMI_INVALID	3
+#define NMI_DEFAULT	NMI_DISABLED
 
 struct ctl_table;
 struct file;
diff --git a/include/asm-x86_64/nmi.h b/include/asm-x86_64/nmi.h
index 5fb3c0d..65b6acf 100644
--- a/include/asm-x86_64/nmi.h
+++ b/include/asm-x86_64/nmi.h
@@ -64,11 +64,12 @@
 
 extern atomic_t nmi_active;
 extern unsigned int nmi_watchdog;
-#define NMI_DEFAULT	-1
+#define NMI_DISABLED    -1
 #define NMI_NONE	0
 #define NMI_IO_APIC	1
 #define NMI_LOCAL_APIC	2
 #define NMI_INVALID	3
+#define NMI_DEFAULT	NMI_DISABLED
 
 struct ctl_table;
 struct file;