diff --git a/config/spl-build.m4 b/config/spl-build.m4
index c28ad0bf2..eaca8f113 100644
--- a/config/spl-build.m4
+++ b/config/spl-build.m4
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([SPL_AC_CONFIG_KERNEL], [
 	SPL_AC_DEBUG_LOG
 	SPL_AC_DEBUG_KMEM
 	SPL_AC_DEBUG_KMEM_TRACKING
+	SPL_AC_TEST_MODULE
 	SPL_AC_ATOMIC_SPINLOCK
 	SPL_AC_TYPE_ATOMIC64_CMPXCHG
 	SPL_AC_TYPE_ATOMIC64_XCHG
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([SPL_AC_CONFIG_KERNEL], [
 AC_DEFUN([SPL_AC_MODULE_SYMVERS], [
 	modpost=$LINUX/scripts/Makefile.modpost
 	AC_MSG_CHECKING([kernel file name for module symbols])
-	if test -f "$modpost"; then
+	if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes -a -f "$modpost"; then
 		if grep -q Modules.symvers $modpost; then
 			LINUX_SYMBOLS=Modules.symvers
 		else
@@ -196,7 +197,13 @@ AC_DEFUN([SPL_AC_KERNEL], [
 		fi
 	else
 		AC_MSG_RESULT([Not found])
-		AC_MSG_ERROR([*** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition.])
+		if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes; then
+			AC_MSG_ERROR([*** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition.])
+		else
+			AC_MSG_ERROR([
+	*** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition.
+	*** Please run 'make prepare' inside the kernel source tree.])
+		fi
 	fi
 
 	AC_MSG_RESULT([$kernsrcver])
@@ -439,34 +446,38 @@ AC_DEFUN([SPL_AC_LICENSE], [
 ])
 
 AC_DEFUN([SPL_AC_CONFIG], [
-        SPL_CONFIG=all
-        AC_ARG_WITH([config],
-                AS_HELP_STRING([--with-config=CONFIG],
-                [Config file 'kernel|user|all|srpm']),
-                [SPL_CONFIG="$withval"])
+	SPL_CONFIG=all
+	AC_ARG_WITH([config],
+		AS_HELP_STRING([--with-config=CONFIG],
+		[Config file 'kernel|user|all|srpm']),
+		[SPL_CONFIG="$withval"])
+	AC_ARG_ENABLE([linux-builtin],
+		[AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-linux-builtin],
+		[Configure for builtin in-tree kernel modules @<:@default=no@:>@])],
+		[],
+		[enable_linux_builtin=no])
 
-        AC_MSG_CHECKING([spl config])
-        AC_MSG_RESULT([$SPL_CONFIG]);
-        AC_SUBST(SPL_CONFIG)
+	AC_MSG_CHECKING([spl config])
+	AC_MSG_RESULT([$SPL_CONFIG]);
+	AC_SUBST(SPL_CONFIG)
 
-        case "$SPL_CONFIG" in
-                kernel) SPL_AC_CONFIG_KERNEL ;;
-                user)   SPL_AC_CONFIG_USER   ;;
-                all)    SPL_AC_CONFIG_KERNEL
-                        SPL_AC_CONFIG_USER   ;;
+	case "$SPL_CONFIG" in
+		kernel) SPL_AC_CONFIG_KERNEL ;;
+		user)   SPL_AC_CONFIG_USER   ;;
+		all)    SPL_AC_CONFIG_KERNEL
+		        SPL_AC_CONFIG_USER   ;;
 		srpm)                        ;;
-                *)
-                AC_MSG_RESULT([Error!])
-                AC_MSG_ERROR([Bad value "$SPL_CONFIG" for --with-config,
-                              user kernel|user|all|srpm]) ;;
-        esac
+		*)
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([Error!])
+		AC_MSG_ERROR([Bad value "$SPL_CONFIG" for --with-config,
+		             user kernel|user|all|srpm]) ;;
+	esac
 
-        AM_CONDITIONAL([CONFIG_USER],
-                       [test "$SPL_CONFIG" = user] ||
-                       [test "$SPL_CONFIG" = all])
-        AM_CONDITIONAL([CONFIG_KERNEL],
-                       [test "$SPL_CONFIG" = kernel] ||
-                       [test "$SPL_CONFIG" = all])
+	AM_CONDITIONAL([CONFIG_USER],
+	               [test "$SPL_CONFIG" = user -o "$SPL_CONFIG" = all])
+	AM_CONDITIONAL([CONFIG_KERNEL],
+	               [test "$SPL_CONFIG" = kernel -o "$SPL_CONFIG" = all] &&
+	               [test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes ])
 ])
 
 dnl #
@@ -738,6 +749,25 @@ AC_DEFUN([SPL_CHECK_HEADER],
 	])
 ])
 
+dnl #
+dnl # Basic toolchain sanity check.
+dnl #
+AC_DEFUN([SPL_AC_TEST_MODULE],
+	[AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether modules can be built])
+	SPL_LINUX_TRY_COMPILE([],[],[
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
+	],[
+		AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
+		if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes; then
+			AC_MSG_ERROR([*** Unable to build an empty module.])
+		else
+			AC_MSG_ERROR([
+	*** Unable to build an empty module.
+	*** Please run 'make scripts' inside the kernel source tree.])
+		fi
+	])
+])
+
 dnl #
 dnl # Use the atomic implemenation based on global spinlocks.  This
 dnl # should only be needed by 32-bit kernels which do not provide
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 3f22988e2..35d46e17b 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -962,6 +962,7 @@ enable_fast_install
 with_gnu_ld
 enable_libtool_lock
 with_config
+enable_linux_builtin
 with_linux
 with_linux_obj
 enable_debug
@@ -1619,6 +1620,8 @@ Optional Features:
   --enable-fast-install[=PKGS]
                           optimize for fast installation [default=yes]
   --disable-libtool-lock  avoid locking (might break parallel builds)
+  --enable-linux-builtin  Configure for builtin in-tree kernel modules
+                          [default=no]
   --enable-debug          Enable generic debug support [default=no]
   --enable-debug-log      Enable basic debug logging [default=yes]
   --enable-debug-kmem     Enable basic kmem accounting [default=yes]
@@ -4789,13 +4792,13 @@ if test "${lt_cv_nm_interface+set}" = set; then
 else
   lt_cv_nm_interface="BSD nm"
   echo "int some_variable = 0;" > conftest.$ac_ext
-  (eval echo "\"\$as_me:4792: $ac_compile\"" >&5)
+  (eval echo "\"\$as_me:4795: $ac_compile\"" >&5)
   (eval "$ac_compile" 2>conftest.err)
   cat conftest.err >&5
-  (eval echo "\"\$as_me:4795: $NM \\\"conftest.$ac_objext\\\"\"" >&5)
+  (eval echo "\"\$as_me:4798: $NM \\\"conftest.$ac_objext\\\"\"" >&5)
   (eval "$NM \"conftest.$ac_objext\"" 2>conftest.err > conftest.out)
   cat conftest.err >&5
-  (eval echo "\"\$as_me:4798: output\"" >&5)
+  (eval echo "\"\$as_me:4801: output\"" >&5)
   cat conftest.out >&5
   if $GREP 'External.*some_variable' conftest.out > /dev/null; then
     lt_cv_nm_interface="MS dumpbin"
@@ -6001,7 +6004,7 @@ ia64-*-hpux*)
   ;;
 *-*-irix6*)
   # Find out which ABI we are using.
-  echo '#line 6004 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
+  echo '#line 6007 "configure"' > conftest.$ac_ext
   if { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_compile\"") >&5
   (eval $ac_compile) 2>&5
   ac_status=$?
@@ -7854,11 +7857,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:7857: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:7860: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:7861: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:7864: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s "$ac_outfile"; then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
      # So say no if there are warnings other than the usual output.
@@ -8193,11 +8196,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:8196: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:8199: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:8200: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:8203: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s "$ac_outfile"; then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
      # So say no if there are warnings other than the usual output.
@@ -8298,11 +8301,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:8301: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:8304: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>out/conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat out/conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:8305: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:8308: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s out/conftest2.$ac_objext
    then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
@@ -8353,11 +8356,11 @@ else
    -e 's:.*FLAGS}\{0,1\} :&$lt_compiler_flag :; t' \
    -e 's: [^ ]*conftest\.: $lt_compiler_flag&:; t' \
    -e 's:$: $lt_compiler_flag:'`
-   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:8356: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
+   (eval echo "\"\$as_me:8359: $lt_compile\"" >&5)
    (eval "$lt_compile" 2>out/conftest.err)
    ac_status=$?
    cat out/conftest.err >&5
-   echo "$as_me:8360: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+   echo "$as_me:8363: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
    if (exit $ac_status) && test -s out/conftest2.$ac_objext
    then
      # The compiler can only warn and ignore the option if not recognized
@@ -11156,7 +11159,7 @@ else
   lt_dlunknown=0; lt_dlno_uscore=1; lt_dlneed_uscore=2
   lt_status=$lt_dlunknown
   cat > conftest.$ac_ext <<_LT_EOF
-#line 11159 "configure"
+#line 11162 "configure"
 #include "confdefs.h"
 
 #if HAVE_DLFCN_H
@@ -11252,7 +11255,7 @@ else
   lt_dlunknown=0; lt_dlno_uscore=1; lt_dlneed_uscore=2
   lt_status=$lt_dlunknown
   cat > conftest.$ac_ext <<_LT_EOF
-#line 11255 "configure"
+#line 11258 "configure"
 #include "confdefs.h"
 
 #if HAVE_DLFCN_H
@@ -11720,22 +11723,29 @@ fi
 
 
 
-        SPL_CONFIG=all
+	SPL_CONFIG=all
 
 # Check whether --with-config was given.
 if test "${with_config+set}" = set; then
   withval=$with_config; SPL_CONFIG="$withval"
 fi
 
+	# Check whether --enable-linux-builtin was given.
+if test "${enable_linux_builtin+set}" = set; then
+  enableval=$enable_linux_builtin;
+else
+  enable_linux_builtin=no
+fi
 
-        { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking spl config" >&5
+
+	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking spl config" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking spl config... " >&6; }
-        { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $SPL_CONFIG" >&5
+	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $SPL_CONFIG" >&5
 $as_echo "$SPL_CONFIG" >&6; };
 
 
-        case "$SPL_CONFIG" in
-                kernel)
+	case "$SPL_CONFIG" in
+		kernel)
 
 
 # Check whether --with-linux was given.
@@ -11836,9 +11846,19 @@ $as_echo "$as_me: error: *** Cannot determine kernel version." >&2;}
 	else
 		{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: Not found" >&5
 $as_echo "Not found" >&6; }
-		{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: *** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition." >&5
+		if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes; then
+			{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: *** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition." >&5
 $as_echo "$as_me: error: *** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition." >&2;}
    { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+		else
+			{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error:
+	*** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition.
+	*** Please run 'make prepare' inside the kernel source tree." >&5
+$as_echo "$as_me: error:
+	*** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition.
+	*** Please run 'make prepare' inside the kernel source tree." >&2;}
+   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+		fi
 	fi
 
 	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $kernsrcver" >&5
@@ -11856,7 +11876,7 @@ $as_echo "$kernsrcver" >&6; }
 	modpost=$LINUX/scripts/Makefile.modpost
 	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking kernel file name for module symbols" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking kernel file name for module symbols... " >&6; }
-	if test -f "$modpost"; then
+	if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes -a -f "$modpost"; then
 		if grep -q Modules.symvers $modpost; then
 			LINUX_SYMBOLS=Modules.symvers
 		else
@@ -12091,6 +12111,74 @@ $as_echo_n "checking whether detailed kmem tracking is enabled... " >&6; }
 	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $enable_debug_kmem_tracking" >&5
 $as_echo "$enable_debug_kmem_tracking" >&6; }
 
+	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking whether modules can be built" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking whether modules can be built... " >&6; }
+
+
+cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.c
+/* confdefs.h.  */
+_ACEOF
+cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
+cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+
+int
+main (void)
+{
+
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+
+_ACEOF
+
+
+	rm -Rf build && mkdir -p build
+	echo "obj-m := conftest.o" >build/Makefile
+	if { ac_try='cp conftest.c build && make modules -C $LINUX_OBJ EXTRA_CFLAGS="-Werror-implicit-function-declaration $EXTRA_KCFLAGS" $ARCH_UM M=$PWD/build'
+  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
+  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
+  ac_status=$?
+  $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+  (exit $ac_status); }; } >/dev/null && { ac_try='test -s build/conftest.o'
+  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
+  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
+  ac_status=$?
+  $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
+
+		{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: yes" >&5
+$as_echo "yes" >&6; }
+
+else
+  $as_echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
+sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
+
+		{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+		if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes; then
+			{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: *** Unable to build an empty module." >&5
+$as_echo "$as_me: error: *** Unable to build an empty module." >&2;}
+   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+		else
+			{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error:
+	*** Unable to build an empty module.
+	*** Please run 'make scripts' inside the kernel source tree." >&5
+$as_echo "$as_me: error:
+	*** Unable to build an empty module.
+	*** Please run 'make scripts' inside the kernel source tree." >&2;}
+   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+		fi
+
+
+
+fi
+
+	rm -Rf build
+
+
+
 
 	# Check whether --enable-atomic-spinlocks was given.
 if test "${enable_atomic_spinlocks+set}" = set; then
@@ -16310,8 +16398,8 @@ fi
 
 
  ;;
-                user)      ;;
-                all)
+		user)      ;;
+		all)
 
 
 # Check whether --with-linux was given.
@@ -16412,9 +16500,19 @@ $as_echo "$as_me: error: *** Cannot determine kernel version." >&2;}
 	else
 		{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: Not found" >&5
 $as_echo "Not found" >&6; }
-		{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: *** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition." >&5
+		if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes; then
+			{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: *** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition." >&5
 $as_echo "$as_me: error: *** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition." >&2;}
    { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+		else
+			{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error:
+	*** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition.
+	*** Please run 'make prepare' inside the kernel source tree." >&5
+$as_echo "$as_me: error:
+	*** Cannot find UTS_RELEASE definition.
+	*** Please run 'make prepare' inside the kernel source tree." >&2;}
+   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+		fi
 	fi
 
 	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $kernsrcver" >&5
@@ -16432,7 +16530,7 @@ $as_echo "$kernsrcver" >&6; }
 	modpost=$LINUX/scripts/Makefile.modpost
 	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking kernel file name for module symbols" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking kernel file name for module symbols... " >&6; }
-	if test -f "$modpost"; then
+	if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes -a -f "$modpost"; then
 		if grep -q Modules.symvers $modpost; then
 			LINUX_SYMBOLS=Modules.symvers
 		else
@@ -16667,6 +16765,74 @@ $as_echo_n "checking whether detailed kmem tracking is enabled... " >&6; }
 	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: $enable_debug_kmem_tracking" >&5
 $as_echo "$enable_debug_kmem_tracking" >&6; }
 
+	{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: checking whether modules can be built" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking whether modules can be built... " >&6; }
+
+
+cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.c
+/* confdefs.h.  */
+_ACEOF
+cat confdefs.h >>conftest.$ac_ext
+cat >>conftest.$ac_ext <<_ACEOF
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+
+int
+main (void)
+{
+
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+
+_ACEOF
+
+
+	rm -Rf build && mkdir -p build
+	echo "obj-m := conftest.o" >build/Makefile
+	if { ac_try='cp conftest.c build && make modules -C $LINUX_OBJ EXTRA_CFLAGS="-Werror-implicit-function-declaration $EXTRA_KCFLAGS" $ARCH_UM M=$PWD/build'
+  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
+  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
+  ac_status=$?
+  $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+  (exit $ac_status); }; } >/dev/null && { ac_try='test -s build/conftest.o'
+  { (eval echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \"$ac_try\"") >&5
+  (eval $ac_try) 2>&5
+  ac_status=$?
+  $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: \$? = $ac_status" >&5
+  (exit $ac_status); }; }; then
+
+		{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: yes" >&5
+$as_echo "yes" >&6; }
+
+else
+  $as_echo "$as_me: failed program was:" >&5
+sed 's/^/| /' conftest.$ac_ext >&5
+
+		{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+		if test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes; then
+			{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: *** Unable to build an empty module." >&5
+$as_echo "$as_me: error: *** Unable to build an empty module." >&2;}
+   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+		else
+			{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error:
+	*** Unable to build an empty module.
+	*** Please run 'make scripts' inside the kernel source tree." >&5
+$as_echo "$as_me: error:
+	*** Unable to build an empty module.
+	*** Please run 'make scripts' inside the kernel source tree." >&2;}
+   { (exit 1); exit 1; }; }
+		fi
+
+
+
+fi
+
+	rm -Rf build
+
+
+
 
 	# Check whether --enable-atomic-spinlocks was given.
 if test "${enable_atomic_spinlocks+set}" = set; then
@@ -20886,20 +21052,19 @@ fi
 
 
 
-                           ;;
+		           ;;
 		srpm)                        ;;
-                *)
-                { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: Error!" >&5
+		*)
+		{ $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: result: Error!" >&5
 $as_echo "Error!" >&6; }
-                { { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: Bad value \"$SPL_CONFIG\" for --with-config,
-                              user kernel|user|all|srpm" >&5
+		{ { $as_echo "$as_me:$LINENO: error: Bad value \"$SPL_CONFIG\" for --with-config,
+		             user kernel|user|all|srpm" >&5
 $as_echo "$as_me: error: Bad value \"$SPL_CONFIG\" for --with-config,
-                              user kernel|user|all|srpm" >&2;}
+		             user kernel|user|all|srpm" >&2;}
    { (exit 1); exit 1; }; } ;;
-        esac
+	esac
 
-         if test "$SPL_CONFIG" = user ||
-                       test "$SPL_CONFIG" = all; then
+	 if test "$SPL_CONFIG" = user -o "$SPL_CONFIG" = all; then
   CONFIG_USER_TRUE=
   CONFIG_USER_FALSE='#'
 else
@@ -20907,8 +21072,8 @@ else
   CONFIG_USER_FALSE=
 fi
 
-         if test "$SPL_CONFIG" = kernel ||
-                       test "$SPL_CONFIG" = all; then
+	 if test "$SPL_CONFIG" = kernel -o "$SPL_CONFIG" = all &&
+	               test "x$enable_linux_builtin" != xyes ; then
   CONFIG_KERNEL_TRUE=
   CONFIG_KERNEL_FALSE='#'
 else