diff --git a/arch/x86/Kconfig b/arch/x86/Kconfig
index c1f9b3cf437c..5ad92419be19 100644
--- a/arch/x86/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/x86/Kconfig
@@ -2217,14 +2217,8 @@ config RANDOMIZE_MEMORY_PHYSICAL_PADDING
 	   If unsure, leave at the default value.
 
 config HOTPLUG_CPU
-	bool "Support for hot-pluggable CPUs"
+	def_bool y
 	depends on SMP
-	---help---
-	  Say Y here to allow turning CPUs off and on. CPUs can be
-	  controlled through /sys/devices/system/cpu.
-	  ( Note: power management support will enable this option
-	    automatically on SMP systems. )
-	  Say N if you want to disable CPU hotplug.
 
 config BOOTPARAM_HOTPLUG_CPU0
 	bool "Set default setting of cpu0_hotpluggable"
diff --git a/kernel/cpu.c b/kernel/cpu.c
index 025f419d16f6..6754f3ecfd94 100644
--- a/kernel/cpu.c
+++ b/kernel/cpu.c
@@ -564,6 +564,20 @@ static void undo_cpu_up(unsigned int cpu, struct cpuhp_cpu_state *st)
 		cpuhp_invoke_callback(cpu, st->state, false, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
+static inline bool can_rollback_cpu(struct cpuhp_cpu_state *st)
+{
+	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_HOTPLUG_CPU))
+		return true;
+	/*
+	 * When CPU hotplug is disabled, then taking the CPU down is not
+	 * possible because takedown_cpu() and the architecture and
+	 * subsystem specific mechanisms are not available. So the CPU
+	 * which would be completely unplugged again needs to stay around
+	 * in the current state.
+	 */
+	return st->state <= CPUHP_BRINGUP_CPU;
+}
+
 static int cpuhp_up_callbacks(unsigned int cpu, struct cpuhp_cpu_state *st,
 			      enum cpuhp_state target)
 {
@@ -574,8 +588,10 @@ static int cpuhp_up_callbacks(unsigned int cpu, struct cpuhp_cpu_state *st,
 		st->state++;
 		ret = cpuhp_invoke_callback(cpu, st->state, true, NULL, NULL);
 		if (ret) {
-			st->target = prev_state;
-			undo_cpu_up(cpu, st);
+			if (can_rollback_cpu(st)) {
+				st->target = prev_state;
+				undo_cpu_up(cpu, st);
+			}
 			break;
 		}
 	}