diff --git a/mm/slab.c b/mm/slab.c
index 807d86c76908..1880d482a0cb 100644
--- a/mm/slab.c
+++ b/mm/slab.c
@@ -3879,7 +3879,12 @@ static int __do_tune_cpucache(struct kmem_cache *cachep, int limit,
 
 	prev = cachep->cpu_cache;
 	cachep->cpu_cache = cpu_cache;
-	kick_all_cpus_sync();
+	/*
+	 * Without a previous cpu_cache there's no need to synchronize remote
+	 * cpus, so skip the IPIs.
+	 */
+	if (prev)
+		kick_all_cpus_sync();
 
 	check_irq_on();
 	cachep->batchcount = batchcount;