diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/sev.c b/arch/x86/kernel/sev.c
index 6395bfd87b68..d87c6ff1f513 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/sev.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/sev.c
@@ -1234,10 +1234,6 @@ void setup_ghcb(void)
 	if (!cc_platform_has(CC_ATTR_GUEST_STATE_ENCRYPT))
 		return;
 
-	/* First make sure the hypervisor talks a supported protocol. */
-	if (!sev_es_negotiate_protocol())
-		sev_es_terminate(SEV_TERM_SET_GEN, GHCB_SEV_ES_GEN_REQ);
-
 	/*
 	 * Check whether the runtime #VC exception handler is active. It uses
 	 * the per-CPU GHCB page which is set up by sev_es_init_vc_handling().
@@ -1254,6 +1250,13 @@ void setup_ghcb(void)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Make sure the hypervisor talks a supported protocol.
+	 * This gets called only in the BSP boot phase.
+	 */
+	if (!sev_es_negotiate_protocol())
+		sev_es_terminate(SEV_TERM_SET_GEN, GHCB_SEV_ES_GEN_REQ);
+
 	/*
 	 * Clear the boot_ghcb. The first exception comes in before the bss
 	 * section is cleared.