diff --git a/arch/xtensa/Kconfig b/arch/xtensa/Kconfig
index 9525b70a13a1..0d1f36a22c98 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/xtensa/Kconfig
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ config XTENSA
 	select MODULES_USE_ELF_RELA
 	select GENERIC_PCI_IOMAP
 	select GENERIC_KERNEL_THREAD
+	select GENERIC_KERNEL_EXECVE
 	select ARCH_WANT_OPTIONAL_GPIOLIB
 	help
 	  Xtensa processors are 32-bit RISC machines designed by Tensilica
diff --git a/arch/xtensa/kernel/entry.S b/arch/xtensa/kernel/entry.S
index d4ec1381aebc..90bfc1dbc13d 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/kernel/entry.S
+++ b/arch/xtensa/kernel/entry.S
@@ -1832,22 +1832,6 @@ ENTRY(system_call)
 	retw
 
 
-/*
- * Do a system call from kernel instead of calling sys_execve, so we end up
- * with proper pt_regs.
- *
- * int kernel_execve(const char *fname, char *const argv[], charg *const envp[])
- * a2                        a2               a3                  a4
- */
-
-ENTRY(kernel_execve)
-	entry	a1, 16
-	mov	a6, a2			# arg0 is in a6
-	movi	a2, __NR_execve
-	syscall
-
-	retw
-
 /*
  * Task switch.
  *
@@ -1940,6 +1924,6 @@ ENTRY(ret_from_kernel_thread)
 	call4	schedule_tail
 	mov	a6, a3
 	callx4	a2
-	call4	do_exit
+	j	common_exception_return
 
 ENDPROC(ret_from_kernel_thread)