diff --git a/arch/riscv/kernel/head.S b/arch/riscv/kernel/head.S
index 15a9189f91ad..72f89b7590dd 100644
--- a/arch/riscv/kernel/head.S
+++ b/arch/riscv/kernel/head.S
@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ _start_kernel:
 	li t0, SR_FS
 	csrc CSR_SSTATUS, t0
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SMP
+	li t0, CONFIG_NR_CPUS
+	bgeu a0, t0, .Lsecondary_park
+#endif
+
 	/* Pick one hart to run the main boot sequence */
 	la a3, hart_lottery
 	li a2, 1
@@ -154,9 +159,6 @@ relocate:
 
 .Lsecondary_start:
 #ifdef CONFIG_SMP
-	li a1, CONFIG_NR_CPUS
-	bgeu a0, a1, .Lsecondary_park
-
 	/* Set trap vector to spin forever to help debug */
 	la a3, .Lsecondary_park
 	csrw CSR_STVEC, a3