diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 86d26c0ad9a9..fd6f7949bc1a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -882,6 +882,12 @@ KBUILD_CFLAGS   += $(call cc-option,-Werror=designated-init)
 # change __FILE__ to the relative path from the srctree
 KBUILD_CFLAGS	+= $(call cc-option,-fmacro-prefix-map=$(srctree)/=)
 
+# ensure -fcf-protection is disabled when using retpoline as it is
+# incompatible with -mindirect-branch=thunk-extern
+ifdef CONFIG_RETPOLINE
+KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-option,-fcf-protection=none)
+endif
+
 # use the deterministic mode of AR if available
 KBUILD_ARFLAGS := $(call ar-option,D)