diff --git a/performance-metrics/src/performance_tests.rs b/performance-metrics/src/performance_tests.rs
index 34f8bfb3a..5c2641885 100644
--- a/performance-metrics/src/performance_tests.rs
+++ b/performance-metrics/src/performance_tests.rs
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ pub fn performance_block_io(control: &PerformanceTestControl) -> f64 {
         .to_string();
 
     let mut child = GuestCommand::new(&guest)
-        .args(&["--cpus", &format!("boot={}", num_queues * 2)])
+        .args(&["--cpus", &format!("boot={}", num_queues)])
         .args(&["--memory", "size=4G"])
         .args(&["--kernel", direct_kernel_boot_path().to_str().unwrap()])
         .args(&["--cmdline", DIRECT_KERNEL_BOOT_CMDLINE])