diff --git a/arch/x86/mm/init_64.c b/arch/x86/mm/init_64.c
index b177652251a43312c49be5dff4801351be8cff55..6176fe8f29e0138ec1cb6742f65b177010846aab 100644
--- a/arch/x86/mm/init_64.c
+++ b/arch/x86/mm/init_64.c
@@ -598,8 +598,15 @@ void __init paging_init(void)
 
 	sparse_memory_present_with_active_regions(MAX_NUMNODES);
 	sparse_init();
-	/* clear the default setting with node 0 */
-	nodes_clear(node_states[N_NORMAL_MEMORY]);
+
+	/*
+	 * clear the default setting with node 0
+	 * note: don't use nodes_clear here, that is really clearing when
+	 *	 numa support is not compiled in, and later node_set_state
+	 *	 will not set it back.
+	 */
+	node_clear_state(0, N_NORMAL_MEMORY);
+
 	free_area_init_nodes(max_zone_pfns);
 }