diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c b/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
index 4296beb8fdd3..26b473dc3f82 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/smpboot.c
@@ -1115,17 +1115,8 @@ int native_cpu_up(unsigned int cpu, struct task_struct *tidle)
 
 	common_cpu_up(cpu, tidle);
 
-	/*
-	 * We have to walk the irq descriptors to setup the vector
-	 * space for the cpu which comes online.  Prevent irq
-	 * alloc/free across the bringup.
-	 */
-	irq_lock_sparse();
-
 	err = do_boot_cpu(apicid, cpu, tidle);
-
 	if (err) {
-		irq_unlock_sparse();
 		pr_err("do_boot_cpu failed(%d) to wakeup CPU#%u\n", err, cpu);
 		return -EIO;
 	}
@@ -1143,8 +1134,6 @@ int native_cpu_up(unsigned int cpu, struct task_struct *tidle)
 		touch_nmi_watchdog();
 	}
 
-	irq_unlock_sparse();
-
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/kernel/cpu.c b/kernel/cpu.c
index 341bf80f80bd..ec12b726fa6f 100644
--- a/kernel/cpu.c
+++ b/kernel/cpu.c
@@ -349,8 +349,16 @@ static int bringup_cpu(unsigned int cpu)
 	struct task_struct *idle = idle_thread_get(cpu);
 	int ret;
 
+	/*
+	 * Some architectures have to walk the irq descriptors to
+	 * setup the vector space for the cpu which comes online.
+	 * Prevent irq alloc/free across the bringup.
+	 */
+	irq_lock_sparse();
+
 	/* Arch-specific enabling code. */
 	ret = __cpu_up(cpu, idle);
+	irq_unlock_sparse();
 	if (ret) {
 		cpu_notify(CPU_UP_CANCELED, cpu);
 		return ret;