diff --git a/scripts/Kconfig.include b/scripts/Kconfig.include
index bfb44b265a94..77a69ba9cd19 100644
--- a/scripts/Kconfig.include
+++ b/scripts/Kconfig.include
@@ -40,3 +40,10 @@ $(error-if,$(success, $(LD) -v | grep -q gold), gold linker '$(LD)' not supporte
 
 # gcc version including patch level
 gcc-version := $(shell,$(srctree)/scripts/gcc-version.sh $(CC))
+
+# machine bit flags
+#  $(m32-flag): -m32 if the compiler supports it, or an empty string otherwise.
+#  $(m64-flag): -m64 if the compiler supports it, or an empty string otherwise.
+cc-option-bit = $(if-success,$(CC) -Werror $(1) -E -x c /dev/null -o /dev/null,$(1))
+m32-flag := $(cc-option-bit,-m32)
+m64-flag := $(cc-option-bit,-m64)