diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index abb49bf..2b1e37d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@
   KBUILD_OUTPUT := $(O)
 endif
 
+ifeq ("$(origin W)", "command line")
+  export KBUILD_ENABLE_EXTRA_GCC_CHECKS := 1
+endif
+
 # That's our default target when none is given on the command line
 PHONY := _all
 _all:
@@ -1262,6 +1266,7 @@
 	@echo  '  make O=dir [targets] Locate all output files in "dir", including .config'
 	@echo  '  make C=1   [targets] Check all c source with $$CHECK (sparse by default)'
 	@echo  '  make C=2   [targets] Force check of all c source with $$CHECK'
+	@echo  '  make W=1   [targets] Enable extra gcc checks'
 	@echo  ''
 	@echo  'Execute "make" or "make all" to build all targets marked with [*] '
 	@echo  'For further info see the ./README file'