diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/powernow-k8.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/powernow-k8.c
index 302963fb4dc3..c567dec854f6 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/powernow-k8.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/cpufreq/powernow-k8.c
@@ -1556,14 +1556,14 @@ static int __cpuinit powernowk8_init(void)
 
 		cpb_capable = true;
 
-		register_cpu_notifier(&cpb_nb);
-
 		msrs = msrs_alloc();
 		if (!msrs) {
 			printk(KERN_ERR "%s: Error allocating msrs!\n", __func__);
 			return -ENOMEM;
 		}
 
+		register_cpu_notifier(&cpb_nb);
+
 		rdmsr_on_cpus(cpu_online_mask, MSR_K7_HWCR, msrs);
 
 		for_each_cpu(cpu, cpu_online_mask) {