diff --git a/config/kernel.m4 b/config/kernel.m4
index bd47ac595..3389c5359 100644
--- a/config/kernel.m4
+++ b/config/kernel.m4
@@ -452,13 +452,6 @@ AC_DEFUN([ZFS_AC_KERNEL], [
 
 	AC_MSG_RESULT([$kernsrcver])
 
-	AX_COMPARE_VERSION([$kernsrcver], [ge], [$ZFS_META_KVER_MIN], [], [
-		AC_MSG_ERROR([
-	*** Cannot build against kernel version $kernsrcver.
-	*** The minimum supported kernel version is $ZFS_META_KVER_MIN.
-		])
-	])
-
 	AC_ARG_ENABLE([linux-experimental],
 		AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-linux-experimental],
 		[Allow building against some unsupported kernel versions]))
@@ -900,7 +893,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([ZFS_LINUX_TEST_ERROR], [
 	*** incompatible modifications.
 	***
 	*** ZFS Version: $ZFS_META_ALIAS
-	*** Compatible Kernels: $ZFS_META_KVER_MIN - $ZFS_META_KVER_MAX
+	*** Highest compatible kernel version: $ZFS_META_KVER_MAX
 	])
 ])
 
@@ -1071,7 +1064,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([ZFS_LINUX_REQUIRE_API], [
 		*** APIs.
 		***
 		*** ZFS Version: $ZFS_META_ALIAS
-		*** Compatible Kernels: $ZFS_META_KVER_MIN - $ZFS_META_KVER_MAX
+		*** Highest compatible kernel version: $ZFS_META_KVER_MAX
 		])
 	], [
 		AC_MSG_RESULT(no)