diff --git a/docs/system/deprecated.rst b/docs/system/deprecated.rst
index 122717cfee..d737728fab 100644
--- a/docs/system/deprecated.rst
+++ b/docs/system/deprecated.rst
@@ -47,19 +47,6 @@ The 'file' driver for drives is no longer appropriate for character or host
 devices and will only accept regular files (S_IFREG). The correct driver
 for these file types is 'host_cdrom' or 'host_device' as appropriate.
 
-``-smp`` (invalid topologies) (since 3.1)
-'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
-
-CPU topology properties should describe whole machine topology including
-possible CPUs.
-
-However, historically it was possible to start QEMU with an incorrect topology
-where *n* <= *sockets* * *cores* * *threads* < *maxcpus*,
-which could lead to an incorrect topology enumeration by the guest.
-Support for invalid topologies will be removed, the user must ensure
-topologies described with -smp include all possible cpus, i.e.
-*sockets* * *cores* * *threads* = *maxcpus*.
-
 ``-vnc acl`` (since 4.0.0)
 ''''''''''''''''''''''''''
 
@@ -618,6 +605,19 @@ New machine versions (since 5.1) will not accept the option but it will still
 work with old machine types. User can check the QAPI schema to see if the legacy
 option is supported by looking at MachineInfo::numa-mem-supported property.
 
+``-smp`` (invalid topologies) (removed 5.2)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+CPU topology properties should describe whole machine topology including
+possible CPUs.
+
+However, historically it was possible to start QEMU with an incorrect topology
+where *n* <= *sockets* * *cores* * *threads* < *maxcpus*,
+which could lead to an incorrect topology enumeration by the guest.
+Support for invalid topologies is removed, the user must ensure
+topologies described with -smp include all possible cpus, i.e.
+*sockets* * *cores* * *threads* = *maxcpus*.
+
 Block devices
 -------------
 
diff --git a/hw/core/machine.c b/hw/core/machine.c
index ea26d61237..09aee4ea52 100644
--- a/hw/core/machine.c
+++ b/hw/core/machine.c
@@ -754,23 +754,15 @@ static void smp_parse(MachineState *ms, QemuOpts *opts)
             exit(1);
         }
 
-        if (sockets * cores * threads > ms->smp.max_cpus) {
-            error_report("cpu topology: "
-                         "sockets (%u) * cores (%u) * threads (%u) > "
-                         "maxcpus (%u)",
+        if (sockets * cores * threads != ms->smp.max_cpus) {
+            error_report("Invalid CPU topology: "
+                         "sockets (%u) * cores (%u) * threads (%u) "
+                         "!= maxcpus (%u)",
                          sockets, cores, threads,
                          ms->smp.max_cpus);
             exit(1);
         }
 
-        if (sockets * cores * threads != ms->smp.max_cpus) {
-            warn_report("Invalid CPU topology deprecated: "
-                        "sockets (%u) * cores (%u) * threads (%u) "
-                        "!= maxcpus (%u)",
-                        sockets, cores, threads,
-                        ms->smp.max_cpus);
-        }
-
         ms->smp.cpus = cpus;
         ms->smp.cores = cores;
         ms->smp.threads = threads;
diff --git a/hw/i386/pc.c b/hw/i386/pc.c
index d071da787b..fbde6b04e6 100644
--- a/hw/i386/pc.c
+++ b/hw/i386/pc.c
@@ -746,23 +746,15 @@ void pc_smp_parse(MachineState *ms, QemuOpts *opts)
             exit(1);
         }
 
-        if (sockets * dies * cores * threads > ms->smp.max_cpus) {
-            error_report("cpu topology: "
-                         "sockets (%u) * dies (%u) * cores (%u) * threads (%u) > "
-                         "maxcpus (%u)",
+        if (sockets * dies * cores * threads != ms->smp.max_cpus) {
+            error_report("Invalid CPU topology deprecated: "
+                         "sockets (%u) * dies (%u) * cores (%u) * threads (%u) "
+                         "!= maxcpus (%u)",
                          sockets, dies, cores, threads,
                          ms->smp.max_cpus);
             exit(1);
         }
 
-        if (sockets * dies * cores * threads != ms->smp.max_cpus) {
-            warn_report("Invalid CPU topology deprecated: "
-                        "sockets (%u) * dies (%u) * cores (%u) * threads (%u) "
-                        "!= maxcpus (%u)",
-                        sockets, dies, cores, threads,
-                        ms->smp.max_cpus);
-        }
-
         ms->smp.cpus = cpus;
         ms->smp.cores = cores;
         ms->smp.threads = threads;
