diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt b/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
index 03a550630644..bfa8a20ccc37 100644
--- a/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
+++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.txt
@@ -1750,8 +1750,8 @@ Kernel parameters
 	fred=		[X86-64]
 			Enable/disable Flexible Return and Event Delivery.
 			Format: { on | off }
-			on: enable FRED when it's present.
-			off: disable FRED, the default setting.
+			on: enable FRED when it's present, the default setting.
+			off: disable FRED.
 
 	ftrace=[tracer]
 			[FTRACE] will set and start the specified tracer
diff --git a/arch/x86/Kconfig b/arch/x86/Kconfig
index e2df1b147184..876b663dcf38 100644
--- a/arch/x86/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/x86/Kconfig
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ config X86_FRED
 	bool "Flexible Return and Event Delivery"
 	depends on X86_64
 	help
-	  When enabled, try to use Flexible Return and Event Delivery
+	  When enabled, use Flexible Return and Event Delivery
 	  instead of the legacy SYSCALL/SYSENTER/IDT architecture for
 	  ring transitions and exception/interrupt handling if the
 	  system supports it.
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/common.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/common.c
index a8ff4376c286..0b02cb038d7f 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/common.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/common.c
@@ -1746,7 +1746,7 @@ static void __init cpu_parse_early_param(void)
 
 	/* Minimize the gap between FRED is available and available but disabled. */
 	arglen = cmdline_find_option(boot_command_line, "fred", arg, sizeof(arg));
-	if (arglen != 2 || strncmp(arg, "on", 2))
+	if (arglen == 3 && !strncmp(arg, "off", 3))
 		setup_clear_cpu_cap(X86_FEATURE_FRED);
 
 	arglen = cmdline_find_option(boot_command_line, "clearcpuid", arg, sizeof(arg));