diff --git a/drivers/gpio/Kconfig b/drivers/gpio/Kconfig
index de202db..5a355f8 100644
--- a/drivers/gpio/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/gpio/Kconfig
@@ -2,15 +2,40 @@
 # GPIO infrastructure and expanders
 #
 
-config HAVE_GPIO_LIB
+config ARCH_WANT_OPTIONAL_GPIOLIB
 	bool
 	help
+	  Select this config option from the architecture Kconfig, if
+	  it is possible to use gpiolib on the architecture, but let the
+	  user decide whether to actually build it or not.
+	  Select this instead of ARCH_REQUIRE_GPIOLIB, if your architecture does
+	  not depend on GPIOs being available, but rather let the user
+	  decide whether he needs it or not.
+
+config ARCH_REQUIRE_GPIOLIB
+	bool
+	select GPIOLIB
+	help
 	  Platforms select gpiolib if they use this infrastructure
 	  for all their GPIOs, usually starting with ones integrated
 	  into SOC processors.
+	  Selecting this from the architecture code will cause the gpiolib
+	  code to always get built in.
 
-menu "GPIO Support"
-	depends on HAVE_GPIO_LIB
+
+
+menuconfig GPIOLIB
+	bool "GPIO Support"
+	depends on ARCH_WANT_OPTIONAL_GPIOLIB || ARCH_REQUIRE_GPIOLIB
+	select GENERIC_GPIO
+	help
+	  This enables GPIO support through the generic GPIO library.
+	  You only need to enable this, if you also want to enable
+	  one or more of the GPIO expansion card drivers below.
+
+	  If unsure, say N.
+
+if GPIOLIB
 
 config DEBUG_GPIO
 	bool "Debug GPIO calls"
@@ -116,4 +141,4 @@
 	  SPI driver for Microchip MCP23S08 I/O expander.  This provides
 	  a GPIO interface supporting inputs and outputs.
 
-endmenu
+endif
diff --git a/drivers/gpio/Makefile b/drivers/gpio/Makefile
index eeb2f2b..8c45948 100644
--- a/drivers/gpio/Makefile
+++ b/drivers/gpio/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ccflags-$(CONFIG_DEBUG_GPIO)	+= -DDEBUG
 
-obj-$(CONFIG_HAVE_GPIO_LIB)	+= gpiolib.o
+obj-$(CONFIG_GPIOLIB)		+= gpiolib.o
 
 obj-$(CONFIG_GPIO_MAX7301)	+= max7301.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_GPIO_MCP23S08)	+= mcp23s08.o