diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/smp-cps.c b/arch/mips/kernel/smp-cps.c
index 90ecd099c4b0..f832e99ad4c3 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/smp-cps.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/smp-cps.c
@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ static void cps_cpu_die(unsigned int cpu)
 {
 	unsigned core = cpu_data[cpu].core;
 	unsigned int vpe_id = cpu_vpe_id(&cpu_data[cpu]);
+	ktime_t fail_time;
 	unsigned stat;
 	int err;
 
@@ -516,6 +517,7 @@ static void cps_cpu_die(unsigned int cpu)
 		 * state, the latter happening when a JTAG probe is connected
 		 * in which case the CPC will refuse to power down the core.
 		 */
+		fail_time = ktime_add_ms(ktime_get(), 2000);
 		do {
 			mips_cm_lock_other(core, 0);
 			mips_cpc_lock_other(core);
@@ -523,9 +525,28 @@ static void cps_cpu_die(unsigned int cpu)
 			stat &= CPC_Cx_STAT_CONF_SEQSTATE_MSK;
 			mips_cpc_unlock_other();
 			mips_cm_unlock_other();
-		} while (stat != CPC_Cx_STAT_CONF_SEQSTATE_D0 &&
-			 stat != CPC_Cx_STAT_CONF_SEQSTATE_D2 &&
-			 stat != CPC_Cx_STAT_CONF_SEQSTATE_U2);
+
+			if (stat == CPC_Cx_STAT_CONF_SEQSTATE_D0 ||
+			    stat == CPC_Cx_STAT_CONF_SEQSTATE_D2 ||
+			    stat == CPC_Cx_STAT_CONF_SEQSTATE_U2)
+				break;
+
+			/*
+			 * The core ought to have powered down, but didn't &
+			 * now we don't really know what state it's in. It's
+			 * likely that its _pwr_up pin has been wired to logic
+			 * 1 & it powered back up as soon as we powered it
+			 * down...
+			 *
+			 * The best we can do is warn the user & continue in
+			 * the hope that the core is doing nothing harmful &
+			 * might behave properly if we online it later.
+			 */
+			if (WARN(ktime_after(ktime_get(), fail_time),
+				 "CPU%u hasn't powered down, seq. state %u\n",
+				 cpu, stat >> CPC_Cx_STAT_CONF_SEQSTATE_SHF))
+				break;
+		} while (1);
 
 		/* Indicate the core is powered off */
 		bitmap_clear(core_power, core, 1);