diff --git a/include/sysemu/sysemu.h b/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
index b21369672a..c083869fcf 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ extern int win2k_install_hack;
 extern int alt_grab;
 extern int ctrl_grab;
 extern int smp_cpus;
-extern int max_cpus;
+extern unsigned int max_cpus;
 extern int cursor_hide;
 extern int graphic_rotate;
 extern int no_quit;
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index ebea42e0ea..d7c349233f 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ Chardev *sclp_hds[MAX_SCLP_CONSOLES];
 int win2k_install_hack = 0;
 int singlestep = 0;
 int smp_cpus = 1;
-int max_cpus = 1;
+unsigned int max_cpus = 1;
 int smp_cores = 1;
 int smp_threads = 1;
 int acpi_enabled = 1;
@@ -4331,8 +4331,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
 
     machine_class->max_cpus = machine_class->max_cpus ?: 1; /* Default to UP */
     if (max_cpus > machine_class->max_cpus) {
-        error_report("Number of SMP CPUs requested (%d) exceeds max CPUs "
-                     "supported by machine '%s' (%d)", max_cpus,
+        error_report("Invalid SMP CPUs %d. The max CPUs "
+                     "supported by machine '%s' is %d", max_cpus,
                      machine_class->name, machine_class->max_cpus);
         exit(1);
     }