diff --git a/drivers/xen/cpu_hotplug.c b/drivers/xen/cpu_hotplug.c
index 14e2d995e958..4dcfced107f5 100644
--- a/drivers/xen/cpu_hotplug.c
+++ b/drivers/xen/cpu_hotplug.c
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ static int vcpu_online(unsigned int cpu)
 	sprintf(dir, "cpu/%u", cpu);
 	err = xenbus_scanf(XBT_NIL, dir, "availability", "%s", state);
 	if (err != 1) {
-		printk(KERN_ERR "XENBUS: Unable to read cpu state\n");
+		if (!xen_initial_domain())
+			printk(KERN_ERR "XENBUS: Unable to read cpu state\n");
 		return err;
 	}