diff --git a/mm/page_alloc.c b/mm/page_alloc.c
index e2b42f603b1a61..9005ec0514fe64 100644
--- a/mm/page_alloc.c
+++ b/mm/page_alloc.c
@@ -348,6 +348,9 @@ static inline bool update_defer_init(pg_data_t *pgdat,
 	/* Always populate low zones for address-constrained allocations */
 	if (zone_end < pgdat_end_pfn(pgdat))
 		return true;
+	/* Xen PV domains need page structures early */
+	if (xen_pv_domain())
+		return true;
 	(*nr_initialised)++;
 	if ((*nr_initialised > pgdat->static_init_pgcnt) &&
 	    (pfn & (PAGES_PER_SECTION - 1)) == 0) {