diff --git a/machine/machine.go b/machine/machine.go
index 4330d69502..dfbe08eec5 100644
--- a/machine/machine.go
+++ b/machine/machine.go
@@ -249,19 +249,21 @@ func getUniqueCPUPropertyCount(cpuBusPath string, propertyName string) int {
 	for _, sysCPUPath := range sysCPUPaths {
 		onlinePath := filepath.Join(sysCPUPath, "online")
 		onlineVal, err := ioutil.ReadFile(onlinePath)
-		if err != nil {
+		// If linux is compiled with CONFIG_HOTPLUG_CPU=n the online/offline file does not exist
+		if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			klog.Warningf("Cannot determine CPU %s online state, skipping", sysCPUPath)
 			continue
-		}
-		onlineVal = bytes.TrimSpace(onlineVal)
-		if len(onlineVal) == 0 || onlineVal[0] != 49 {
-			klog.Warningf("CPU %s is offline, skipping", sysCPUPath)
-			continue
+		} else if err == nil {
+			onlineVal = bytes.TrimSpace(onlineVal)
+			if len(onlineVal) == 0 || onlineVal[0] != byte('1') {
+				klog.Warningf("CPU %s is offline, skipping", sysCPUPath)
+				continue
+			}
 		}
 		propertyPath := filepath.Join(sysCPUPath, sysFsCPUTopology, propertyName)
 		propertyVal, err := ioutil.ReadFile(propertyPath)
 		if err != nil {
-			klog.Errorf("Cannot open %s, number of unique %s  set to 0", propertyPath, propertyName)
+			klog.Errorf("Cannot open %s, number of unique %s set to 0", propertyPath, propertyName)
 			return 0
 		}
 		uniques[string(propertyVal)] = true
diff --git a/machine/testdata/cpu1/online b/machine/testdata/cpu1/online
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..573541ac97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/machine/testdata/cpu1/online
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0
diff --git a/machine/testdata/cpu3/topology/core_id b/machine/testdata/cpu3/topology/core_id
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..00750edc07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/machine/testdata/cpu3/topology/core_id
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3
diff --git a/machine/testdata/cpu3/topology/physical_package_id b/machine/testdata/cpu3/topology/physical_package_id
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..573541ac97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/machine/testdata/cpu3/topology/physical_package_id
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0
diff --git a/machine/topology_test.go b/machine/topology_test.go
index e94030070d..0b944f2f64 100644
--- a/machine/topology_test.go
+++ b/machine/topology_test.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestPhysicalCoresReadingFromCpuBus(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotNil(t, testcpuinfo)
 
 	numPhysicalCores := GetPhysicalCores(testcpuinfo)
-	assert.Equal(t, 2, numPhysicalCores)
+	assert.Equal(t, 3, numPhysicalCores)
 }
 
 func TestPhysicalCoresFromWrongSysFs(t *testing.T) {