diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/topology.c b/arch/x86/kernel/topology.c
index a40051b71d9b..0fcc95a354f7 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/topology.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/topology.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 static DEFINE_PER_CPU(struct x86_cpu, cpu_devices);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_HOTPLUG_CPU
-int arch_register_cpu(int num)
+int __ref arch_register_cpu(int num)
 {
 	/*
 	 * CPU0 cannot be offlined due to several