diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/head_32.S b/arch/x86/kernel/head_32.S
index 8663afb56535..0d98a01cbdb2 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/head_32.S
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/head_32.S
@@ -602,7 +602,11 @@ ignore_int:
 #endif
 	iret
 
-.section .cpuinit.data,"wa"
+#ifndef CONFIG_HOTPLUG_CPU
+	__CPUINITDATA
+#else
+	__REFDATA
+#endif
 .align 4
 ENTRY(initial_code)
 	.long i386_start_kernel