diff --git a/include/linux/compiler-gcc.h b/include/linux/compiler-gcc.h
index a9f794716a81..03ec2311fb29 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler-gcc.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler-gcc.h
@@ -40,3 +40,4 @@
 #define  noinline			__attribute__((noinline))
 #define __attribute_pure__		__attribute__((pure))
 #define __attribute_const__		__attribute__((__const__))
+#define __maybe_unused			__attribute__((unused))
diff --git a/include/linux/compiler-gcc3.h b/include/linux/compiler-gcc3.h
index ecd621fd27d2..a9e2863c2dbf 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler-gcc3.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler-gcc3.h
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
 #include <linux/compiler-gcc.h>
 
 #if __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 3
-# define __attribute_used__	__attribute__((__used__))
+# define __used			__attribute__((__used__))
+# define __attribute_used__	__used				/* deprecated */
 #else
-# define __attribute_used__	__attribute__((__unused__))
+# define __used			__attribute__((__unused__))
+# define __attribute_used__	__used				/* deprecated */
 #endif
 
 #if __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 4
diff --git a/include/linux/compiler-gcc4.h b/include/linux/compiler-gcc4.h
index fd0cc7c4a636..a03e9398a6c2 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler-gcc4.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler-gcc4.h
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 # define __inline		__inline	__attribute__((always_inline))
 #endif
 
-#define __attribute_used__	__attribute__((__used__))
+#define __used			__attribute__((__used__))
+#define __attribute_used__	__used			/* deprecated */
 #define __must_check 		__attribute__((warn_unused_result))
 #define __compiler_offsetof(a,b) __builtin_offsetof(a,b)
 #define __always_inline		inline __attribute__((always_inline))
diff --git a/include/linux/compiler.h b/include/linux/compiler.h
index 3b6949b41745..498c35920762 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler.h
@@ -108,15 +108,30 @@ extern void __chk_io_ptr(const void __iomem *);
  * Allow us to avoid 'defined but not used' warnings on functions and data,
  * as well as force them to be emitted to the assembly file.
  *
- * As of gcc 3.3, static functions that are not marked with attribute((used))
- * may be elided from the assembly file.  As of gcc 3.3, static data not so
+ * As of gcc 3.4, static functions that are not marked with attribute((used))
+ * may be elided from the assembly file.  As of gcc 3.4, static data not so
  * marked will not be elided, but this may change in a future gcc version.
  *
+ * NOTE: Because distributions shipped with a backported unit-at-a-time
+ * compiler in gcc 3.3, we must define __used to be __attribute__((used))
+ * for gcc >=3.3 instead of 3.4.
+ *
  * In prior versions of gcc, such functions and data would be emitted, but
  * would be warned about except with attribute((unused)).
+ *
+ * Mark functions that are referenced only in inline assembly as __used so
+ * the code is emitted even though it appears to be unreferenced.
  */
 #ifndef __attribute_used__
-# define __attribute_used__	/* unimplemented */
+# define __attribute_used__	/* deprecated */
+#endif
+
+#ifndef __used
+# define __used			/* unimplemented */
+#endif
+
+#ifndef __maybe_unused
+# define __maybe_unused		/* unimplemented */
 #endif
 
 /*