diff --git a/arch/powerpc/mm/numa.c b/arch/powerpc/mm/numa.c
index 9d5f710d2c20..b9b7fefbb64b 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/mm/numa.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/mm/numa.c
@@ -956,7 +956,9 @@ static int __init parse_numa_properties(void)
 			of_node_put(cpu);
 		}
 
-		node_set_online(nid);
+		/* node_set_online() is an UB if 'nid' is negative */
+		if (likely(nid >= 0))
+			node_set_online(nid);
 	}
 
 	get_n_mem_cells(&n_mem_addr_cells, &n_mem_size_cells);