diff --git a/arch/x86/cpu.c b/arch/x86/cpu.c
index e0a739846..6268f102f 100644
--- a/arch/x86/cpu.c
+++ b/arch/x86/cpu.c
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ void bsp_boot_init(void)
 	hv_main(CPU_BOOT_ID);
 
 	/* Control should not come here */
-	cpu_halt(CPU_BOOT_ID);
+	cpu_dead(CPU_BOOT_ID);
 }
 
 void cpu_secondary_init(void)
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ void cpu_secondary_init(void)
 	/* Control will only come here for secondary CPUs not configured for
 	 * use or if an error occurs in hv_main
 	 */
-	cpu_halt(get_cpu_id());
+	cpu_dead(get_cpu_id());
 }
 
 int cpu_find_logical_id(uint32_t lapic_id)
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ static void start_cpus()
 }
 #endif
 
-void cpu_halt(uint32_t logical_id)
+void cpu_dead(uint32_t logical_id)
 {
 	/* For debug purposes, using a stack variable in the while loop enables
 	 * us to modify the value using a JTAG probe and resume if needed.
diff --git a/arch/x86/irq.c b/arch/x86/irq.c
index 0363e7534..9dc9416e0 100644
--- a/arch/x86/irq.c
+++ b/arch/x86/irq.c
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ void dispatch_exception(struct intr_ctx *ctx)
 	spinlock_release(&exception_spinlock);
 
 	/* Halt the CPU */
-	cpu_halt(cpu_id);
+	cpu_dead(cpu_id);
 }
 
 void handle_spurious_interrupt(int vector)
diff --git a/include/arch/x86/cpu.h b/include/arch/x86/cpu.h
index 6a3085932..21c82d817 100644
--- a/include/arch/x86/cpu.h
+++ b/include/arch/x86/cpu.h
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ extern struct cpuinfo_x86 boot_cpu_data;
 #define MAX_PSTATE	20
 
 /* Function prototypes */
-void cpu_halt(uint32_t logical_id);
+void cpu_dead(uint32_t logical_id);
 uint64_t cpu_cycles_per_second(void);
 uint64_t tsc_cycles_in_period(uint16_t timer_period_in_us);
 void cpu_secondary_reset(void);