diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
index 75bdf5ae202c..f8d1ee3a372e 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ localyesconfig: $(obj)/streamline_config.pl $(obj)/conf
 	fi
 	$(Q)rm -f .tmp.config
 
+nonint_oldconfig: $(obj)/conf
+	$< -b $(Kconfig)
+
+loose_nonint_oldconfig: $(obj)/conf
+	$< -B $(Kconfig)
+
 # Create new linux.pot file
 # Adjust charset to UTF-8 in .po file to accept UTF-8 in Kconfig files
 # The symlink is used to repair a deficiency in arch/um
@@ -126,6 +132,10 @@ help:
 	@echo  '  allmodconfig	  - New config selecting modules when possible'
 	@echo  '  allyesconfig	  - New config where all options are accepted with yes'
 	@echo  '  allnoconfig	  - New config where all options are answered with no'
+	@echo  '  nonint_oldconfig - Checks the current configuration and fails if an option is '
+	@echo  '                    not set'
+	@echo  '  loose_nonint_oldconfig - Same as nonint_oldconfig, but updates the config file with '
+	@echo  '                    missing config options as unset'
 
 # lxdialog stuff
 check-lxdialog  := $(srctree)/$(src)/lxdialog/check-lxdialog.sh
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
index 9960d1c303f8..3fa4abf3b084 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 #define LKC_DIRECT_LINK
 #include "lkc.h"
 
+/* Return codes */
+#define EUNSETOPT	2	/* if -B and -b are used and unset config
+				 * options were found */
+
 static void conf(struct menu *menu);
 static void check_conf(struct menu *menu);
 
@@ -23,6 +27,8 @@ enum {
 	ask_all,
 	ask_new,
 	ask_silent,
+	dont_ask,
+	dont_ask_dont_tell,
 	set_default,
 	set_yes,
 	set_mod,
@@ -37,6 +43,7 @@ static int sync_kconfig;
 static int conf_cnt;
 static char line[128];
 static struct menu *rootEntry;
+static int unset_variables;
 
 static void print_help(struct menu *menu)
 {
@@ -360,7 +367,10 @@ static void conf(struct menu *menu)
 
 		switch (prop->type) {
 		case P_MENU:
-			if (input_mode == ask_silent && rootEntry != menu) {
+			if ((input_mode == ask_silent ||
+			     input_mode == dont_ask ||
+			     input_mode == dont_ask_dont_tell) &&
+			    rootEntry != menu) {
 				check_conf(menu);
 				return;
 			}
@@ -418,10 +428,23 @@ static void check_conf(struct menu *menu)
 	if (sym && !sym_has_value(sym)) {
 		if (sym_is_changable(sym) ||
 		    (sym_is_choice(sym) && sym_get_tristate_value(sym) == yes)) {
-			if (!conf_cnt++)
-				printf(_("*\n* Restart config...\n*\n"));
-			rootEntry = menu_get_parent_menu(menu);
-			conf(rootEntry);
+			if (input_mode == dont_ask ||
+			    input_mode == dont_ask_dont_tell) {
+				if (input_mode == dont_ask &&
+				    sym->name && !sym_is_choice_value(sym)) {
+					if (!unset_variables)
+						fprintf(stderr, "The following"
+						  " variables are not set:\n");
+					fprintf(stderr, "CONFIG_%s\n",
+							sym->name);
+					unset_variables++;
+				}
+			} else {
+				if (!conf_cnt++)
+					printf(_("*\n* Restart config...\n*\n"));
+				rootEntry = menu_get_parent_menu(menu);
+				conf(rootEntry);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -439,7 +462,7 @@ int main(int ac, char **av)
 	bindtextdomain(PACKAGE, LOCALEDIR);
 	textdomain(PACKAGE);
 
-	while ((opt = getopt(ac, av, "osdD:nmyrh")) != -1) {
+	while ((opt = getopt(ac, av, "osbBdD:nmyrh")) != -1) {
 		switch (opt) {
 		case 'o':
 			input_mode = ask_silent;
@@ -448,6 +471,12 @@ int main(int ac, char **av)
 			input_mode = ask_silent;
 			sync_kconfig = 1;
 			break;
+		case 'b':
+			input_mode = dont_ask;
+			break;
+		case 'B':
+			input_mode = dont_ask_dont_tell;
+			break;
 		case 'd':
 			input_mode = set_default;
 			break;
@@ -525,6 +554,8 @@ int main(int ac, char **av)
 	case ask_silent:
 	case ask_all:
 	case ask_new:
+	case dont_ask:
+	case dont_ask_dont_tell:
 		conf_read(NULL);
 		break;
 	case set_no:
@@ -586,12 +617,16 @@ int main(int ac, char **av)
 		conf(&rootmenu);
 		input_mode = ask_silent;
 		/* fall through */
+	case dont_ask:
+	case dont_ask_dont_tell:
 	case ask_silent:
 		/* Update until a loop caused no more changes */
 		do {
 			conf_cnt = 0;
 			check_conf(&rootmenu);
-		} while (conf_cnt);
+		} while (conf_cnt &&
+			 (input_mode != dont_ask &&
+			  input_mode != dont_ask_dont_tell));
 		break;
 	}
 
@@ -607,11 +642,11 @@ int main(int ac, char **av)
 			fprintf(stderr, _("\n*** Error during update of the kernel configuration.\n\n"));
 			return 1;
 		}
-	} else {
+	} else if (!unset_variables || input_mode != dont_ask) {
 		if (conf_write(NULL)) {
 			fprintf(stderr, _("\n*** Error during writing of the kernel configuration.\n\n"));
 			exit(1);
 		}
 	}
-	return 0;
+	return unset_variables ? EUNSETOPT : 0;
 }