diff --git a/hw/i386/pc_q35.c b/hw/i386/pc_q35.c
index 45a4102e75..df63a92b78 100644
--- a/hw/i386/pc_q35.c
+++ b/hw/i386/pc_q35.c
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ static void pc_q35_machine_options(MachineClass *m)
     m->default_nic = "e1000e";
     m->default_kernel_irqchip_split = false;
     m->no_floppy = 1;
-    m->max_cpus = 1024;
+    m->max_cpus = 4096;
     m->no_parallel = !module_object_class_by_name(TYPE_ISA_PARALLEL);
     machine_class_allow_dynamic_sysbus_dev(m, TYPE_AMD_IOMMU_DEVICE);
     machine_class_allow_dynamic_sysbus_dev(m, TYPE_INTEL_IOMMU_DEVICE);
@@ -371,6 +371,7 @@ static void pc_q35_8_2_machine_options(MachineClass *m)
 {
     pc_q35_9_0_machine_options(m);
     m->alias = NULL;
+    m->max_cpus = 1024;
     compat_props_add(m->compat_props, hw_compat_8_2, hw_compat_8_2_len);
     compat_props_add(m->compat_props, pc_compat_8_2, pc_compat_8_2_len);
 }