diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index 3e67510e17..10cd693af8 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ func validateFlags(drvName string) {
 	} else {
 		cpuCount = viper.GetInt(cpus)
 	}
-	if cpuCount < minimumCPUS {
+	if cpuCount < minimumCPUS && !viper.GetBool(force) {
 		exit.UsageT("Requested cpu count {{.requested_cpus}} is less than the minimum allowed of {{.minimum_cpus}}", out.V{"requested_cpus": cpuCount, "minimum_cpus": minimumCPUS})
 	}