diff --git a/scripts/Kbuild.include b/scripts/Kbuild.include
index d1dd4a6b6adb..7da10afc92c6 100644
--- a/scripts/Kbuild.include
+++ b/scripts/Kbuild.include
@@ -82,20 +82,21 @@ cc-cross-prefix = $(firstword $(foreach c, $(1), \
 			$(if $(shell command -v -- $(c)gcc 2>/dev/null), $(c))))
 
 # output directory for tests below
-TMPOUT := $(if $(KBUILD_EXTMOD),$(firstword $(KBUILD_EXTMOD))/)
+TMPOUT = $(if $(KBUILD_EXTMOD),$(firstword $(KBUILD_EXTMOD))/).tmp_$$$$
 
 # try-run
 # Usage: option = $(call try-run, $(CC)...-o "$$TMP",option-ok,otherwise)
 # Exit code chooses option. "$$TMP" serves as a temporary file and is
 # automatically cleaned up.
 try-run = $(shell set -e;		\
-	TMP="$(TMPOUT).$$$$.tmp";	\
-	TMPO="$(TMPOUT).$$$$.o";	\
+	TMP=$(TMPOUT)/tmp;		\
+	TMPO=$(TMPOUT)/tmp.o;		\
+	mkdir -p $(TMPOUT);		\
+	trap "rm -rf $(TMPOUT)" EXIT;	\
 	if ($(1)) >/dev/null 2>&1;	\
 	then echo "$(2)";		\
 	else echo "$(3)";		\
-	fi;				\
-	rm -f "$$TMP" "$$TMPO")
+	fi)
 
 # as-option
 # Usage: cflags-y += $(call as-option,-Wa$(comma)-isa=foo,)