diff --git a/arch/powerpc/mm/numa.c b/arch/powerpc/mm/numa.c
index 35ac5422903a..b5a71baedbc2 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/mm/numa.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/mm/numa.c
@@ -1452,7 +1452,8 @@ static struct timer_list topology_timer;
 
 static void reset_topology_timer(void)
 {
-	mod_timer(&topology_timer, jiffies + topology_timer_secs * HZ);
+	if (vphn_enabled)
+		mod_timer(&topology_timer, jiffies + topology_timer_secs * HZ);
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SMP