diff --git a/init/main.c b/init/main.c
index 8451878..05b5283 100644
--- a/init/main.c
+++ b/init/main.c
@@ -149,6 +149,20 @@
 
 early_param("nosmp", nosmp);
 
+/* this is hard limit */
+static int __init nrcpus(char *str)
+{
+	int nr_cpus;
+
+	get_option(&str, &nr_cpus);
+	if (nr_cpus > 0 && nr_cpus < nr_cpu_ids)
+		nr_cpu_ids = nr_cpus;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+early_param("nr_cpus", nrcpus);
+
 static int __init maxcpus(char *str)
 {
 	get_option(&str, &setup_max_cpus);