diff --git a/src/platform/kgpe/default.nix b/src/platform/kgpe/default.nix
index 2aab9b9..f30f4a9 100644
--- a/src/platform/kgpe/default.nix
+++ b/src/platform/kgpe/default.nix
@@ -50,9 +50,24 @@
       config = with lib.kernel; {
         CBFS_PREFIX = lib.mkForce (freeform "prefix");
 
-        # (freeform "Enable this option if coreboot shall read options from the "CMOS"
-        # NVRAM instead of using hard-coded values."
-        USE_OPTION_TABLE = lib.mkForce yes;
+        # Upstream describes this option as "Enable this option if
+        # coreboot shall read options from the CMOS NVRAM instead of
+        # using hard-coded values."
+        #
+        # The RTC_BOOT_BYTE (which controls normal/fallback)
+        # indicator is always taken from CMOS NVRAM, regardless of
+        # how this option is set.  When set to `no`, no other parts
+        # of the CMOS NVRAM are read or written.
+        #
+        # On KGPE-D16 I have found that USE_OPTION_TABLE=yes is
+        # frustratingly flaky and unstable; about 1 in 20 boots will
+        # hang in the PNP device enumeration.  Apparently during SMP
+        # boot, multiple cores attempt to access the (single) CMOS
+        # NVRAM concurrently, causing massive headaches.  Please
+        # don't turn this option on unless you are willing to deal
+        # with extreme frustration.
+        #
+        USE_OPTION_TABLE = lib.mkForce no;
 
         BOARD_ASUS_KGPE_D16 = lib.mkForce yes;
         VENDOR_ASUS = lib.mkForce yes;