diff --git a/scripts/Kbuild.include b/scripts/Kbuild.include
index a1880e854dce..06c1a377c4c5 100644
--- a/scripts/Kbuild.include
+++ b/scripts/Kbuild.include
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ####
 # kbuild: Generic definitions
 
-# Convenient constants
+# Convenient variables
 comma   := ,
 squote  := '
 empty   :=
@@ -56,44 +56,48 @@ endef
 # gcc support functions
 # See documentation in Documentation/kbuild/makefiles.txt
 
-# checker-shell
-# Usage: option = $(call checker-shell,$(CC)...-o $$OUT,option-ok,otherwise)
-# Exit code chooses option. $$OUT is safe location for needless output.
-define checker-shell
-$(shell set -e; \
-  DIR=$(KBUILD_EXTMOD); \
-  cd $${DIR:-$(objtree)}; \
-  OUT=$$PWD/.$$$$.null; \
-  if $(1) >/dev/null 2>&1; \
-    then echo "$(2)"; \
-    else echo "$(3)"; \
-  fi; \
-  rm -f $$OUT)
-endef
+# output directory for tests below
+TMPOUT := $(if $(KBUILD_EXTMOD),$(firstword $(KBUILD_EXTMOD))/)
+
+# try-run
+# Usage: option = $(call try-run, $(CC)...-o "$$TMP",option-ok,otherwise)
+# Exit code chooses option. "$$TMP" is can be used as temporary file and
+# is automatically cleaned up.
+try-run = $(shell set -e;		\
+	TMP="$(TMPOUT).$$$$.tmp";	\
+	if ($(1)) >/dev/null 2>&1;	\
+	then echo "$(2)";		\
+	else echo "$(3)";		\
+	fi;				\
+	rm -f "$$TMP")
 
 # as-option
 # Usage: cflags-y += $(call as-option,-Wa$(comma)-isa=foo,)
-as-option = $(call checker-shell,\
-   $(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(1) -c -xassembler /dev/null -o $$OUT,$(1),$(2))
+
+as-option = $(call try-run,\
+	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(1) -c -xassembler /dev/null -o "$$TMP",$(1),$(2))
 
 # as-instr
 # Usage: cflags-y += $(call as-instr,instr,option1,option2)
-as-instr = $(call checker-shell,\
-   printf "$(1)" | $(CC) $(AFLAGS) -c -xassembler -o $$OUT -,$(2),$(3))
+
+as-instr = $(call try-run,\
+	echo -e "$(1)" | $(CC) $(AFLAGS) -c -xassembler -o "$$TMP" -,$(2),$(3))
 
 # cc-option
 # Usage: cflags-y += $(call cc-option,-march=winchip-c6,-march=i586)
-cc-option = $(call checker-shell,\
-   $(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(if $(3),$(3),$(1)) -S -xc /dev/null -o $$OUT,$(1),$(2))
+
+cc-option = $(call try-run,\
+	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(1) -S -xc /dev/null -o "$$TMP",$(1),$(2))
 
 # cc-option-yn
 # Usage: flag := $(call cc-option-yn,-march=winchip-c6)
-cc-option-yn = $(call cc-option,"y","n",$(1))
+cc-option-yn = $(call try-run,\
+	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(1) -S -xc /dev/null -o "$$TMP",y,n)
 
 # cc-option-align
 # Prefix align with either -falign or -malign
 cc-option-align = $(subst -functions=0,,\
-   $(call cc-option,-falign-functions=0,-malign-functions=0))
+	$(call cc-option,-falign-functions=0,-malign-functions=0))
 
 # cc-version
 # Usage gcc-ver := $(call cc-version,$(CC))
@@ -105,24 +109,22 @@ cc-ifversion = $(shell [ $(call cc-version, $(CC)) $(1) $(2) ] && echo $(3))
 
 # ld-option
 # Usage: ldflags += $(call ld-option, -Wl$(comma)--hash-style=both)
-ld-option = $(call checker-shell,\
-   $(CC) $(1) -nostdlib -xc /dev/null -o $$OUT,$(1),$(2))
+ld-option = $(call try-run,\
+	$(CC) $(1) -nostdlib -xc /dev/null -o "$$TMP",$(1),$(2))
 
 ######
 
+###
 # Shorthand for $(Q)$(MAKE) -f scripts/Makefile.build obj=
 # Usage:
 # $(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=dir
 build := -f $(if $(KBUILD_SRC),$(srctree)/)scripts/Makefile.build obj
 
-# Prefix -I with $(srctree) if it is not an absolute path,
-# add original to the end
-addtree = $(if \
-	$(filter-out -I/%,$(1)),$(patsubst -I%,-I$(srctree)/%,$(1))) $(1)
+# Prefix -I with $(srctree) if it is not an absolute path.
+addtree = $(if $(filter-out -I/%,$(1)),$(patsubst -I%,-I$(srctree)/%,$(1))) $(1)
 
 # Find all -I options and call addtree
-flags = $(foreach o,$($(1)),\
-	$(if $(filter -I%,$(o)),$(call addtree,$(o)),$(o)))
+flags = $(foreach o,$($(1)),$(if $(filter -I%,$(o)),$(call addtree,$(o)),$(o)))
 
 # echo command.
 # Short version is used, if $(quiet) equals `quiet_', otherwise full one.
@@ -144,7 +146,7 @@ objectify = $(foreach o,$(1),$(if $(filter /%,$(o)),$(o),$(obj)/$(o)))
 # See Documentation/kbuild/makefiles.txt for more info
 
 ifneq ($(KBUILD_NOCMDDEP),1)
-# Check if both arguments has same arguments. Result is empty string, if equal.
+# Check if both arguments has same arguments. Result is empty string if equal.
 # User may override this check using make KBUILD_NOCMDDEP=1
 arg-check = $(strip $(filter-out $(cmd_$(1)), $(cmd_$@)) \
                     $(filter-out $(cmd_$@),   $(cmd_$(1))) )
@@ -168,7 +170,6 @@ if_changed = $(if $(strip $(any-prereq) $(arg-check)),                       \
 	echo 'cmd_$@ := $(make-cmd)' > $(dot-target).cmd)
 
 # Execute the command and also postprocess generated .d dependencies file.
-#
 if_changed_dep = $(if $(strip $(any-prereq) $(arg-check) ),                  \
 	@set -e;                                                             \
 	$(echo-cmd) $(cmd_$(1));                                             \
@@ -176,10 +177,9 @@ if_changed_dep = $(if $(strip $(any-prereq) $(arg-check) ),                  \
 	rm -f $(depfile);                                                    \
 	mv -f $(dot-target).tmp $(dot-target).cmd)
 
-# Will check if $(cmd_foo) changed, or any of the prerequisites changed,
-# and if so will execute $(rule_foo).
 # Usage: $(call if_changed_rule,foo)
-#
+# Will check if $(cmd_foo) or any of the prerequisites changed,
+# and if so will execute $(rule_foo).
 if_changed_rule = $(if $(strip $(any-prereq) $(arg-check) ),                 \
 	@set -e;                                                             \
 	$(rule_$(1)))