diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/topology.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/topology.c
index d17c9b71eb4a..621a151ccf7d 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/topology.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/topology.c
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ static void topo_set_cpuids(unsigned int cpu, u32 apic_id, u32 acpi_id)
 
 static __init bool check_for_real_bsp(u32 apic_id)
 {
+	bool is_bsp = false, has_apic_base = boot_cpu_data.x86 >= 6;
+	u64 msr;
+
 	/*
 	 * There is no real good way to detect whether this a kdump()
 	 * kernel, but except on the Voyager SMP monstrosity which is not
@@ -144,17 +147,61 @@ static __init bool check_for_real_bsp(u32 apic_id)
 	if (topo_info.real_bsp_apic_id != BAD_APICID)
 		return false;
 
-	if (apic_id == topo_info.boot_cpu_apic_id) {
-		topo_info.real_bsp_apic_id = apic_id;
-		return false;
+	/*
+	 * Check whether the enumeration order is broken by evaluating the
+	 * BSP bit in the APICBASE MSR. If the CPU does not have the
+	 * APICBASE MSR then the BSP detection is not possible and the
+	 * kernel must rely on the firmware enumeration order.
+	 */
+	if (has_apic_base) {
+		rdmsrl(MSR_IA32_APICBASE, msr);
+		is_bsp = !!(msr & MSR_IA32_APICBASE_BSP);
 	}
 
-	pr_warn("Boot CPU APIC ID not the first enumerated APIC ID: %x > %x\n",
+	if (apic_id == topo_info.boot_cpu_apic_id) {
+		/*
+		 * If the boot CPU has the APIC BSP bit set then the
+		 * firmware enumeration is agreeing. If the CPU does not
+		 * have the APICBASE MSR then the only choice is to trust
+		 * the enumeration order.
+		 */
+		if (is_bsp || !has_apic_base) {
+			topo_info.real_bsp_apic_id = apic_id;
+			return false;
+		}
+		/*
+		 * If the boot APIC is enumerated first, but the APICBASE
+		 * MSR does not have the BSP bit set, then there is no way
+		 * to discover the real BSP here. Assume a crash kernel and
+		 * limit the number of CPUs to 1 as an INIT to the real BSP
+		 * would reset the machine.
+		 */
+		pr_warn("Enumerated BSP APIC %x is not marked in APICBASE MSR\n", apic_id);
+		pr_warn("Assuming crash kernel. Limiting to one CPU to prevent machine INIT\n");
+		set_nr_cpu_ids(1);
+		goto fwbug;
+	}
+
+	pr_warn("Boot CPU APIC ID not the first enumerated APIC ID: %x != %x\n",
 		topo_info.boot_cpu_apic_id, apic_id);
+
+	if (is_bsp) {
+		/*
+		 * The boot CPU has the APIC BSP bit set. Use it and complain
+		 * about the broken firmware enumeration.
+		 */
+		topo_info.real_bsp_apic_id = topo_info.boot_cpu_apic_id;
+		goto fwbug;
+	}
+
 	pr_warn("Crash kernel detected. Disabling real BSP to prevent machine INIT\n");
 
 	topo_info.real_bsp_apic_id = apic_id;
 	return true;
+
+fwbug:
+	pr_warn(FW_BUG "APIC enumeration order not specification compliant\n");
+	return false;
 }
 
 static unsigned int topo_unit_count(u32 lvlid, enum x86_topology_domains at_level,