diff --git a/config.mk b/config.mk
index 597a5660c3..ed1a51972f 100644
--- a/config.mk
+++ b/config.mk
@@ -102,14 +102,6 @@ CFLAGS := $(KBUILD_CFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS)
 
 BCURDIR = $(subst $(SRCTREE)/,,$(CURDIR:$(obj)%=%))
 
-ifeq ($(findstring examples/,$(BCURDIR)),)
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_SPL_BUILD),)
-ifdef FTRACE
-CFLAGS += -finstrument-functions -DFTRACE
-endif
-endif
-endif
-
 AFLAGS := $(KBUILD_AFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS)
 
 LDFLAGS += $(PLATFORM_LDFLAGS)
diff --git a/examples/api/Makefile b/examples/api/Makefile
index 52f43680fc..ee3c487c13 100644
--- a/examples/api/Makefile
+++ b/examples/api/Makefile
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier:	GPL-2.0+
 #
 
+ifdef FTRACE
+CFLAGS += -finstrument-functions -DFTRACE
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(ARCH),powerpc)
 LOAD_ADDR = 0x40000
 endif
diff --git a/examples/standalone/Makefile b/examples/standalone/Makefile
index cad440954e..1f8d70ce8a 100644
--- a/examples/standalone/Makefile
+++ b/examples/standalone/Makefile
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier:	GPL-2.0+
 #
 
+ifdef FTRACE
+CFLAGS += -finstrument-functions -DFTRACE
+endif
+
 extra-y        := hello_world
 extra-$(CONFIG_SMC91111)           += smc91111_eeprom
 extra-$(CONFIG_SMC911X)            += smc911x_eeprom