diff --git a/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt b/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt
index a70e43edcb6..4ca93898fbd 100644
--- a/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt
+++ b/Documentation/kernel-parameters.txt
@@ -1846,7 +1846,9 @@ bytes respectively. Such letter suffixes can also be entirely omitted.
 			See Documentation/sound/oss/oss-parameters.txt
 
 	panic=		[KNL] Kernel behaviour on panic: delay <timeout>
-			seconds before rebooting
+			timeout > 0: seconds before rebooting
+			timeout = 0: wait forever
+			timeout < 0: reboot immediately
 			Format: <timeout>
 
 	parkbd.port=	[HW] Parallel port number the keyboard adapter is
diff --git a/kernel/panic.c b/kernel/panic.c
index 69231670eb9..d7bb6974efb 100644
--- a/kernel/panic.c
+++ b/kernel/panic.c
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ NORET_TYPE void panic(const char * fmt, ...)
 			}
 			mdelay(PANIC_TIMER_STEP);
 		}
+	}
+	if (panic_timeout != 0) {
 		/*
 		 * This will not be a clean reboot, with everything
 		 * shutting down.  But if there is a chance of