diff --git a/arch/powerpc/Makefile b/arch/powerpc/Makefile
index 41604a37b385..11a0ccb47be3 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/Makefile
+++ b/arch/powerpc/Makefile
@@ -44,18 +44,13 @@ machine-$(CONFIG_PPC64) += 64
 machine-$(CONFIG_CPU_LITTLE_ENDIAN) += le
 UTS_MACHINE := $(subst $(space),,$(machine-y))
 
-# XXX This needs to be before we override LD below
-ifdef CONFIG_PPC32
-KBUILD_LDFLAGS_MODULE += arch/powerpc/lib/crtsavres.o
-else
-ifeq ($(call ld-ifversion, -ge, 22500, y),y)
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_PPC64)$(CONFIG_LD_IS_BFD),yy)
 # Have the linker provide sfpr if possible.
 # There is a corresponding test in arch/powerpc/lib/Makefile
 KBUILD_LDFLAGS_MODULE += --save-restore-funcs
 else
 KBUILD_LDFLAGS_MODULE += arch/powerpc/lib/crtsavres.o
 endif
-endif
 
 ifdef CONFIG_CPU_LITTLE_ENDIAN
 KBUILD_CFLAGS	+= -mlittle-endian
@@ -434,17 +429,7 @@ endif # CONFIG_PPC32
 endif # CONFIG_SMP
 
 PHONY += checkbin
-# Check toolchain versions:
-# - gcc-4.6 is the minimum kernel-wide version so nothing required.
 checkbin:
-	@if test "x${CONFIG_LD_IS_LLD}" != "xy" -a \
-		"x$(call ld-ifversion, -le, 22400, y)" = "xy" ; then \
-		echo -n '*** binutils 2.24 miscompiles weak symbols ' ; \
-		echo 'in some circumstances.' ; \
-		echo    '*** binutils 2.23 do not define the TOC symbol ' ; \
-		echo -n '*** Please use a different binutils version.' ; \
-		false ; \
-	fi
 	@if test "x${CONFIG_FTRACE_MCOUNT_USE_RECORDMCOUNT}" = "xy" -a \
 		"x${CONFIG_LD_IS_BFD}" = "xy" -a \
 		"${CONFIG_LD_VERSION}" = "23700" ; then \
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/lib/Makefile b/arch/powerpc/lib/Makefile
index 54be64203b2a..cb8a66743a02 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/lib/Makefile
+++ b/arch/powerpc/lib/Makefile
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ obj-$(CONFIG_FUNCTION_ERROR_INJECTION)	+= error-inject.o
 # 64-bit linker creates .sfpr on demand for final link (vmlinux),
 # so it is only needed for modules, and only for older linkers which
 # do not support --save-restore-funcs
-ifeq ($(call ld-ifversion, -lt, 22500, y),y)
+ifndef CONFIG_LD_IS_BFD
 extra-$(CONFIG_PPC64)	+= crtsavres.o
 endif
 
diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.compiler b/scripts/Makefile.compiler
index 86ecd2ac874c..60ddd47bfa1b 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.compiler
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.compiler
@@ -68,7 +68,3 @@ cc-ifversion = $(shell [ $(CONFIG_GCC_VERSION)0 $(1) $(2)000 ] && echo $(3) || e
 # ld-option
 # Usage: KBUILD_LDFLAGS += $(call ld-option, -X, -Y)
 ld-option = $(call try-run, $(LD) $(KBUILD_LDFLAGS) $(1) -v,$(1),$(2),$(3))
-
-# ld-ifversion
-# Usage:  $(call ld-ifversion, -ge, 22252, y)
-ld-ifversion = $(shell [ $(CONFIG_LD_VERSION)0 $(1) $(2)0 ] && echo $(3) || echo $(4))