diff --git a/kernel/trace/Kconfig b/kernel/trace/Kconfig
index fd6754b88f87..aec44d838283 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/Kconfig
+++ b/kernel/trace/Kconfig
@@ -774,6 +774,18 @@ config TRACING_EVENTS_GPIO
 	help
 	  Enable tracing events for gpio subsystem
 
+config GCOV_PROFILE_FTRACE
+	bool "Enable GCOV profiling on ftrace subsystem"
+	depends on GCOV_KERNEL
+	help
+	  Enable GCOV profiling on ftrace subsystem for checking
+	  which functions/lines are tested.
+
+	  If unsure, say N.
+
+	  Note that on a kernel compiled with this config, ftrace will
+	  run significantly slower.
+
 endif # FTRACE
 
 endif # TRACING_SUPPORT
diff --git a/kernel/trace/Makefile b/kernel/trace/Makefile
index 98d53b39a8ee..f81dadbc7c4a 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/Makefile
+++ b/kernel/trace/Makefile
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ ifdef CONFIG_TRACING_BRANCHES
 KBUILD_CFLAGS += -DDISABLE_BRANCH_PROFILING
 endif
 
+# for GCOV coverage profiling
+ifdef CONFIG_GCOV_PROFILE_FTRACE
+GCOV_PROFILE := y
+endif
+
 CFLAGS_trace_benchmark.o := -I$(src)
 CFLAGS_trace_events_filter.o := -I$(src)