unsigned int counter;
 
        counter = nmi_perfctr_msr_to_bit(msr);
-       BUG_ON(counter > NMI_MAX_COUNTER_BITS);
+       /* register not managed by the allocator? */
+       if (counter > NMI_MAX_COUNTER_BITS)
+               return 1;
 
        if (!test_and_set_bit(counter, perfctr_nmi_owner))
                return 1;
        unsigned int counter;
 
        counter = nmi_perfctr_msr_to_bit(msr);
-       BUG_ON(counter > NMI_MAX_COUNTER_BITS);
+       /* register not managed by the allocator? */
+       if (counter > NMI_MAX_COUNTER_BITS)
+               return;
 
        clear_bit(counter, perfctr_nmi_owner);
 }
        unsigned int counter;
 
        counter = nmi_evntsel_msr_to_bit(msr);
-       BUG_ON(counter > NMI_MAX_COUNTER_BITS);
+       /* register not managed by the allocator? */
+       if (counter > NMI_MAX_COUNTER_BITS)
+               return 1;
 
        if (!test_and_set_bit(counter, evntsel_nmi_owner))
                return 1;
        unsigned int counter;
 
        counter = nmi_evntsel_msr_to_bit(msr);
-       BUG_ON(counter > NMI_MAX_COUNTER_BITS);
+       /* register not managed by the allocator? */
+       if (counter > NMI_MAX_COUNTER_BITS)
+               return;
 
        clear_bit(counter, evntsel_nmi_owner);
 }