diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c b/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
index c42827eb86cf..25f909362b7a 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
@@ -338,10 +338,15 @@ done:
 
 static void __init_or_module optimize_nops(struct alt_instr *a, u8 *instr)
 {
+	unsigned long flags;
+
 	if (instr[0] != 0x90)
 		return;
 
+	local_irq_save(flags);
 	add_nops(instr + (a->instrlen - a->padlen), a->padlen);
+	sync_core();
+	local_irq_restore(flags);
 
 	DUMP_BYTES(instr, a->instrlen, "%p: [%d:%d) optimized NOPs: ",
 		   instr, a->instrlen - a->padlen, a->padlen);