diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a3a7baa..b161056 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@
 export KBUILD_DEFCONFIG
 
 config %config: scripts_basic outputmakefile FORCE
-	$(Q)mkdir -p include/linux
+	$(Q)mkdir -p include/linux include/config
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=scripts/kconfig $@
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -C $(srctree) KBUILD_SRC= .kernelrelease
 
@@ -421,8 +421,6 @@
 scripts: scripts_basic include/config/MARKER
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=$(@)
 
-scripts_basic: include/linux/autoconf.h
-
 # Objects we will link into vmlinux / subdirs we need to visit
 init-y		:= init/
 drivers-y	:= drivers/ sound/
@@ -436,25 +434,22 @@
 
 # Read in dependencies to all Kconfig* files, make sure to run
 # oldconfig if changes are detected.
--include .kconfig.d
+-include include/config/auto.conf.cmd
+-include include/config/auto.conf
 
-include .config
-
-# If .config needs to be updated, it will be done via the dependency
-# that autoconf has on .config.
 # To avoid any implicit rule to kick in, define an empty command
-.config .kconfig.d: ;
+.config include/config/auto.conf.cmd: ;
 
-# If .config is newer than include/linux/autoconf.h, someone tinkered
+# If .config is newer than include/config/auto.conf, someone tinkered
 # with it and forgot to run make oldconfig.
-# If kconfig.d is missing then we are probarly in a cleaned tree so
+# if auto.conf.cmd is missing then we are probarly in a cleaned tree so
 # we execute the config step to be sure to catch updated Kconfig files
-include/linux/autoconf.h: .kconfig.d .config
-	$(Q)mkdir -p include/linux
+include/config/auto.conf: .config include/config/auto.conf.cmd
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/Makefile silentoldconfig
+
 else
 # Dummy target needed, because used as prerequisite
-include/linux/autoconf.h: ;
+include/config/auto.conf: ;
 endif
 
 # The all: target is the default when no target is given on the
@@ -779,7 +774,7 @@
 prepare3: .kernelrelease
 ifneq ($(KBUILD_SRC),)
 	@echo '  Using $(srctree) as source for kernel'
-	$(Q)if [ -f $(srctree)/.config ]; then \
+	$(Q)if [ -f $(srctree)/.config -o -d $(srctree)/include/config ]; then \
 		echo "  $(srctree) is not clean, please run 'make mrproper'";\
 		echo "  in the '$(srctree)' directory.";\
 		/bin/false; \
@@ -822,7 +817,7 @@
 
 # 	Split autoconf.h into include/linux/config/*
 
-include/config/MARKER: scripts/basic/split-include include/linux/autoconf.h
+include/config/MARKER: scripts/basic/split-include include/config/auto.conf
 	@echo '  SPLIT   include/linux/autoconf.h -> include/config/*'
 	@scripts/basic/split-include include/linux/autoconf.h include/config
 	@touch $@
diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.build b/scripts/Makefile.build
index e48e60d..53e53a2 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.build
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.build
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 __build:
 
 # Read .config if it exist, otherwise ignore
--include .config
+-include include/config/auto.conf
 
 include scripts/Kbuild.include
 
diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.modpost b/scripts/Makefile.modpost
index 0e056cf..576cce5 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.modpost
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.modpost
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 PHONY := _modpost
 _modpost: __modpost
 
-include .config
+include include/config/auto.conf
 include scripts/Kbuild.include
 include scripts/Makefile.lib
 
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
index 8012d10..9334da6 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
@@ -599,7 +599,15 @@
 			input_mode = ask_silent;
 			valid_stdin = 1;
 		}
-	}
+	} else if (sym_change_count) {
+		name = getenv("KCONFIG_NOSILENTUPDATE");
+		if (name && *name) {
+			fprintf(stderr, _("\n*** Kernel configuration requires explicit update.\n\n"));
+			return 1;
+		}
+	} else
+		goto skip_check;
+
 	do {
 		conf_cnt = 0;
 		check_conf(&rootmenu);
@@ -608,5 +616,11 @@
 		fprintf(stderr, _("\n*** Error during writing of the kernel configuration.\n\n"));
 		return 1;
 	}
+skip_check:
+	if (input_mode == ask_silent && conf_write_autoconf()) {
+		fprintf(stderr, _("\n*** Error during writing of the kernel configuration.\n\n"));
+		return 1;
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c b/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
index a9e3b6a..2da4a8d 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@
 
 int conf_write(const char *name)
 {
-	FILE *out, *out_h;
+	FILE *out;
 	struct symbol *sym;
 	struct menu *menu;
 	const char *basename;
@@ -379,13 +379,6 @@
 	out = fopen(newname, "w");
 	if (!out)
 		return 1;
-	out_h = NULL;
-	if (!name) {
-		out_h = fopen(".tmpconfig.h", "w");
-		if (!out_h)
-			return 1;
-		file_write_dep(NULL);
-	}
 	sym = sym_lookup("KERNELVERSION", 0);
 	sym_calc_value(sym);
 	time(&now);
@@ -401,16 +394,6 @@
 		     sym_get_string_value(sym),
 		     use_timestamp ? "# " : "",
 		     use_timestamp ? ctime(&now) : "");
-	if (out_h)
-		fprintf(out_h, "/*\n"
-			       " * Automatically generated C config: don't edit\n"
-			       " * Linux kernel version: %s\n"
-			       "%s%s"
-			       " */\n"
-			       "#define AUTOCONF_INCLUDED\n",
-			       sym_get_string_value(sym),
-			       use_timestamp ? " * " : "",
-			       use_timestamp ? ctime(&now) : "");
 
 	if (!sym_change_count)
 		sym_clear_all_valid();
@@ -426,11 +409,6 @@
 				     "#\n"
 				     "# %s\n"
 				     "#\n", str);
-			if (out_h)
-				fprintf(out_h, "\n"
-					       "/*\n"
-					       " * %s\n"
-					       " */\n", str);
 		} else if (!(sym->flags & SYMBOL_CHOICE)) {
 			sym_calc_value(sym);
 			if (!(sym->flags & SYMBOL_WRITE))
@@ -448,59 +426,39 @@
 				switch (sym_get_tristate_value(sym)) {
 				case no:
 					fprintf(out, "# CONFIG_%s is not set\n", sym->name);
-					if (out_h)
-						fprintf(out_h, "#undef CONFIG_%s\n", sym->name);
 					break;
 				case mod:
 					fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=m\n", sym->name);
-					if (out_h)
-						fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s_MODULE 1\n", sym->name);
 					break;
 				case yes:
 					fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=y\n", sym->name);
-					if (out_h)
-						fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s 1\n", sym->name);
 					break;
 				}
 				break;
 			case S_STRING:
-				// fix me
 				str = sym_get_string_value(sym);
 				fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=\"", sym->name);
-				if (out_h)
-					fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s \"", sym->name);
-				do {
+				while (1) {
 					l = strcspn(str, "\"\\");
 					if (l) {
 						fwrite(str, l, 1, out);
-						if (out_h)
-							fwrite(str, l, 1, out_h);
+						str += l;
 					}
-					str += l;
-					while (*str == '\\' || *str == '"') {
-						fprintf(out, "\\%c", *str);
-						if (out_h)
-							fprintf(out_h, "\\%c", *str);
-						str++;
-					}
-				} while (*str);
+					if (!*str)
+						break;
+					fprintf(out, "\\%c", *str++);
+				}
 				fputs("\"\n", out);
-				if (out_h)
-					fputs("\"\n", out_h);
 				break;
 			case S_HEX:
 				str = sym_get_string_value(sym);
 				if (str[0] != '0' || (str[1] != 'x' && str[1] != 'X')) {
 					fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=%s\n", sym->name, str);
-					if (out_h)
-						fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s 0x%s\n", sym->name, str);
 					break;
 				}
 			case S_INT:
 				str = sym_get_string_value(sym);
 				fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=%s\n", sym->name, str);
-				if (out_h)
-					fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s %s\n", sym->name, str);
 				break;
 			}
 		}
@@ -520,10 +478,6 @@
 		}
 	}
 	fclose(out);
-	if (out_h) {
-		fclose(out_h);
-		rename(".tmpconfig.h", "include/linux/autoconf.h");
-	}
 	if (!name || basename != conf_def_filename) {
 		if (!name)
 			name = conf_def_filename;
@@ -542,3 +496,120 @@
 
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int conf_write_autoconf(void)
+{
+	struct symbol *sym;
+	const char *str;
+	char *name;
+	FILE *out, *out_h;
+	time_t now;
+	int i, l;
+
+	file_write_dep("include/config/auto.conf.cmd");
+
+	out = fopen(".tmpconfig", "w");
+	if (!out)
+		return 1;
+
+	out_h = fopen(".tmpconfig.h", "w");
+	if (!out_h) {
+		fclose(out);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	sym = sym_lookup("KERNELVERSION", 0);
+	sym_calc_value(sym);
+	time(&now);
+	fprintf(out, "#\n"
+		     "# Automatically generated make config: don't edit\n"
+		     "# Linux kernel version: %s\n"
+		     "# %s"
+		     "#\n",
+		     sym_get_string_value(sym), ctime(&now));
+	fprintf(out_h, "/*\n"
+		       " * Automatically generated C config: don't edit\n"
+		       " * Linux kernel version: %s\n"
+		       " * %s"
+		       " */\n"
+		       "#define AUTOCONF_INCLUDED\n",
+		       sym_get_string_value(sym), ctime(&now));
+
+	sym_clear_all_valid();
+
+	for_all_symbols(i, sym) {
+		sym_calc_value(sym);
+		if (!(sym->flags & SYMBOL_WRITE) || !sym->name)
+			continue;
+		switch (sym->type) {
+		case S_BOOLEAN:
+		case S_TRISTATE:
+			switch (sym_get_tristate_value(sym)) {
+			case no:
+				break;
+			case mod:
+				fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=m\n", sym->name);
+				fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s_MODULE 1\n", sym->name);
+				break;
+			case yes:
+				fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=y\n", sym->name);
+				fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s 1\n", sym->name);
+				break;
+			}
+			break;
+		case S_STRING:
+			str = sym_get_string_value(sym);
+			fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=\"", sym->name);
+			fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s \"", sym->name);
+			while (1) {
+				l = strcspn(str, "\"\\");
+				if (l) {
+					fwrite(str, l, 1, out);
+					fwrite(str, l, 1, out_h);
+					str += l;
+				}
+				if (!*str)
+					break;
+				fprintf(out, "\\%c", *str);
+				fprintf(out_h, "\\%c", *str);
+				str++;
+			}
+			fputs("\"\n", out);
+			fputs("\"\n", out_h);
+			break;
+		case S_HEX:
+			str = sym_get_string_value(sym);
+			if (str[0] != '0' || (str[1] != 'x' && str[1] != 'X')) {
+				fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=%s\n", sym->name, str);
+				fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s 0x%s\n", sym->name, str);
+				break;
+			}
+		case S_INT:
+			str = sym_get_string_value(sym);
+			fprintf(out, "CONFIG_%s=%s\n", sym->name, str);
+			fprintf(out_h, "#define CONFIG_%s %s\n", sym->name, str);
+			break;
+		default:
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	fclose(out);
+	fclose(out_h);
+
+	name = getenv("KCONFIG_AUTOHEADER");
+	if (!name)
+		name = "include/linux/autoconf.h";
+	if (rename(".tmpconfig.h", name))
+		return 1;
+	name = getenv("KCONFIG_AUTOCONFIG");
+	if (!name)
+		name = "include/config/auto.conf";
+	/*
+	 * This must be the last step, kbuild has a dependency on auto.conf
+	 * and this marks the successful completion of the previous steps.
+	 */
+	if (rename(".tmpconfig", name))
+		return 1;
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/lkc_proto.h b/scripts/kconfig/lkc_proto.h
index b6a389c..bd0fb1d 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/lkc_proto.h
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/lkc_proto.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 P(conf_read,int,(const char *name));
 P(conf_read_simple,int,(const char *name));
 P(conf_write,int,(const char *name));
+P(conf_write_autoconf,int,(void));
 
 /* menu.c */
 P(rootmenu,struct menu,);
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/util.c b/scripts/kconfig/util.c
index 656d2c8..e3f28b9 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/util.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/util.c
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@
 		else
 			fprintf(out, "\t%s\n", file->name);
 	}
-	fprintf(out, "\n.config include/linux/autoconf.h: $(deps_config)\n\n$(deps_config):\n");
+	fprintf(out, "\ninclude/config/auto.conf: \\\n"
+		     "\t$(deps_config)\n\n"
+		     "$(deps_config): ;\n");
 	fclose(out);
 	rename("..config.tmp", name);
 	return 0;