diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/smp-cps.c b/arch/mips/kernel/smp-cps.c
index 6d45f05538c8b3..795b4aaf89277b 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/smp-cps.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/smp-cps.c
@@ -422,13 +422,12 @@ void play_dead(void)
 	local_irq_disable();
 	idle_task_exit();
 	cpu = smp_processor_id();
+	core = cpu_data[cpu].core;
 	cpu_death = CPU_DEATH_POWER;
 
 	pr_debug("CPU%d going offline\n", cpu);
 
 	if (cpu_has_mipsmt || cpu_has_vp) {
-		core = cpu_data[cpu].core;
-
 		/* Look for another online VPE within the core */
 		for_each_online_cpu(cpu_death_sibling) {
 			if (cpu_data[cpu_death_sibling].core != core)