diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/mcheck/mce.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/mcheck/mce.c
index 0078761219a2..6cc800381d14 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/mcheck/mce.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/mcheck/mce.c
@@ -704,8 +704,7 @@ static int mce_timed_out(u64 *t)
 	if (!mca_cfg.monarch_timeout)
 		goto out;
 	if ((s64)*t < SPINUNIT) {
-		/* CHECKME: Make panic default for 1 too? */
-		if (mca_cfg.tolerant < 1)
+		if (mca_cfg.tolerant <= 1)
 			mce_panic("Timeout synchronizing machine check over CPUs",
 				  NULL, NULL);
 		cpu_missing = 1;