diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace.c b/kernel/trace/trace.c
index 80898f4870cc..396fda034e3f 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace.c
@@ -2638,8 +2638,11 @@ static int tracing_set_tracer(char *buf)
 		current_trace->reset(tr);
 
 	current_trace = t;
-	if (t->init)
-		t->init(tr);
+	if (t->init) {
+		ret = t->init(tr);
+		if (ret)
+			goto out;
+	}
 
 	trace_branch_enable(tr);
  out:
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace.h b/kernel/trace/trace.h
index 790ea8c0e1f3..cdbd5cc22be8 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace.h
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace.h
@@ -264,7 +264,8 @@ enum print_line_t {
  */
 struct tracer {
 	const char		*name;
-	void			(*init)(struct trace_array *tr);
+	/* Your tracer should raise a warning if init fails */
+	int			(*init)(struct trace_array *tr);
 	void			(*reset)(struct trace_array *tr);
 	void			(*start)(struct trace_array *tr);
 	void			(*stop)(struct trace_array *tr);
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_boot.c b/kernel/trace/trace_boot.c
index cb333b7fd113..a4fa2c57e34e 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_boot.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_boot.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static void reset_boot_trace(struct trace_array *tr)
 		tracing_reset(tr, cpu);
 }
 
-static void boot_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int boot_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	int cpu;
 	boot_trace = tr;
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ static void boot_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 		tracing_reset(tr, cpu);
 
 	tracing_sched_switch_assign_trace(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static enum print_line_t
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_branch.c b/kernel/trace/trace_branch.c
index 85265553918f..44bd39539d61 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_branch.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_branch.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ static void stop_branch_trace(struct trace_array *tr)
 	disable_branch_tracing();
 }
 
-static void branch_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int branch_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	int cpu;
 
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ static void branch_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 		tracing_reset(tr, cpu);
 
 	start_branch_trace(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void branch_trace_reset(struct trace_array *tr)
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_functions.c b/kernel/trace/trace_functions.c
index 8693b7a0a5b2..e74f6d0a3216 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_functions.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_functions.c
@@ -42,9 +42,10 @@ static void stop_function_trace(struct trace_array *tr)
 	tracing_stop_cmdline_record();
 }
 
-static void function_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int function_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	start_function_trace(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void function_trace_reset(struct trace_array *tr)
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_functions_return.c b/kernel/trace/trace_functions_return.c
index 7680b21537dd..61185f756a13 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_functions_return.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_functions_return.c
@@ -24,13 +24,14 @@ static void stop_return_trace(struct trace_array *tr)
 	unregister_ftrace_return();
 }
 
-static void return_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int return_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	int cpu;
 	for_each_online_cpu(cpu)
 		tracing_reset(tr, cpu);
 
 	start_return_trace(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void return_trace_reset(struct trace_array *tr)
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_irqsoff.c b/kernel/trace/trace_irqsoff.c
index d919d4eaa7cc..7c2e326bbc8b 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_irqsoff.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_irqsoff.c
@@ -416,11 +416,12 @@ static void irqsoff_tracer_close(struct trace_iterator *iter)
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_IRQSOFF_TRACER
-static void irqsoff_tracer_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int irqsoff_tracer_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	trace_type = TRACER_IRQS_OFF;
 
 	__irqsoff_tracer_init(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 static struct tracer irqsoff_tracer __read_mostly =
 {
@@ -442,11 +443,12 @@ static struct tracer irqsoff_tracer __read_mostly =
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_PREEMPT_TRACER
-static void preemptoff_tracer_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int preemptoff_tracer_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	trace_type = TRACER_PREEMPT_OFF;
 
 	__irqsoff_tracer_init(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static struct tracer preemptoff_tracer __read_mostly =
@@ -471,11 +473,12 @@ static struct tracer preemptoff_tracer __read_mostly =
 #if defined(CONFIG_IRQSOFF_TRACER) && \
 	defined(CONFIG_PREEMPT_TRACER)
 
-static void preemptirqsoff_tracer_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int preemptirqsoff_tracer_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	trace_type = TRACER_IRQS_OFF | TRACER_PREEMPT_OFF;
 
 	__irqsoff_tracer_init(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static struct tracer preemptirqsoff_tracer __read_mostly =
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_mmiotrace.c b/kernel/trace/trace_mmiotrace.c
index 51bcf370215e..433d650eda9f 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_mmiotrace.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_mmiotrace.c
@@ -30,13 +30,14 @@ static void mmio_reset_data(struct trace_array *tr)
 		tracing_reset(tr, cpu);
 }
 
-static void mmio_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int mmio_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	pr_debug("in %s\n", __func__);
 	mmio_trace_array = tr;
 
 	mmio_reset_data(tr);
 	enable_mmiotrace();
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void mmio_trace_reset(struct trace_array *tr)
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_nop.c b/kernel/trace/trace_nop.c
index 2ef1d227e7d8..0e77415caed3 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_nop.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_nop.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ static void stop_nop_trace(struct trace_array *tr)
 	/* Nothing to do! */
 }
 
-static void nop_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int nop_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	int cpu;
 	ctx_trace = tr;
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ static void nop_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 		tracing_reset(tr, cpu);
 
 	start_nop_trace(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void nop_trace_reset(struct trace_array *tr)
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_sched_switch.c b/kernel/trace/trace_sched_switch.c
index be35bdfe2e38..863390557b44 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_sched_switch.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_sched_switch.c
@@ -206,10 +206,11 @@ static void stop_sched_trace(struct trace_array *tr)
 	tracing_stop_sched_switch_record();
 }
 
-static void sched_switch_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int sched_switch_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	ctx_trace = tr;
 	start_sched_trace(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void sched_switch_trace_reset(struct trace_array *tr)
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_sched_wakeup.c b/kernel/trace/trace_sched_wakeup.c
index 983f2b1478c9..0067b49746c1 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_sched_wakeup.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_sched_wakeup.c
@@ -331,10 +331,11 @@ static void stop_wakeup_tracer(struct trace_array *tr)
 	unregister_trace_sched_wakeup(probe_wakeup);
 }
 
-static void wakeup_tracer_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int wakeup_tracer_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	wakeup_trace = tr;
 	start_wakeup_tracer(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void wakeup_tracer_reset(struct trace_array *tr)
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_selftest.c b/kernel/trace/trace_selftest.c
index 5cb64ea061b5..88c8eb70f54a 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_selftest.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_selftest.c
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ static int trace_test_buffer(struct trace_array *tr, unsigned long *count)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static inline void warn_failed_init_tracer(struct tracer *trace, int init_ret)
+{
+	printk(KERN_WARNING "Failed to init %s tracer, init returned %d\n",
+		trace->name, init_ret);
+}
 #ifdef CONFIG_FUNCTION_TRACER
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DYNAMIC_FTRACE
@@ -111,7 +116,11 @@ int trace_selftest_startup_dynamic_tracing(struct tracer *trace,
 	ftrace_set_filter(func_name, strlen(func_name), 1);
 
 	/* enable tracing */
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		goto out;
+	}
 
 	/* Sleep for a 1/10 of a second */
 	msleep(100);
@@ -181,7 +190,12 @@ trace_selftest_startup_function(struct tracer *trace, struct trace_array *tr)
 	ftrace_enabled = 1;
 	tracer_enabled = 1;
 
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	/* Sleep for a 1/10 of a second */
 	msleep(100);
 	/* stop the tracing. */
@@ -223,7 +237,12 @@ trace_selftest_startup_irqsoff(struct tracer *trace, struct trace_array *tr)
 	int ret;
 
 	/* start the tracing */
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
 	/* reset the max latency */
 	tracing_max_latency = 0;
 	/* disable interrupts for a bit */
@@ -272,7 +291,12 @@ trace_selftest_startup_preemptoff(struct tracer *trace, struct trace_array *tr)
 	}
 
 	/* start the tracing */
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
 	/* reset the max latency */
 	tracing_max_latency = 0;
 	/* disable preemption for a bit */
@@ -321,7 +345,11 @@ trace_selftest_startup_preemptirqsoff(struct tracer *trace, struct trace_array *
 	}
 
 	/* start the tracing */
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		goto out;
+	}
 
 	/* reset the max latency */
 	tracing_max_latency = 0;
@@ -449,7 +477,12 @@ trace_selftest_startup_wakeup(struct tracer *trace, struct trace_array *tr)
 	wait_for_completion(&isrt);
 
 	/* start the tracing */
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
 	/* reset the max latency */
 	tracing_max_latency = 0;
 
@@ -505,7 +538,12 @@ trace_selftest_startup_sched_switch(struct tracer *trace, struct trace_array *tr
 	int ret;
 
 	/* start the tracing */
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
 	/* Sleep for a 1/10 of a second */
 	msleep(100);
 	/* stop the tracing. */
@@ -532,7 +570,12 @@ trace_selftest_startup_sysprof(struct tracer *trace, struct trace_array *tr)
 	int ret;
 
 	/* start the tracing */
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	/* Sleep for a 1/10 of a second */
 	msleep(100);
 	/* stop the tracing. */
@@ -554,7 +597,12 @@ trace_selftest_startup_branch(struct tracer *trace, struct trace_array *tr)
 	int ret;
 
 	/* start the tracing */
-	trace->init(tr);
+	ret = trace->init(tr);
+	if (ret) {
+		warn_failed_init_tracer(trace, ret);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
 	/* Sleep for a 1/10 of a second */
 	msleep(100);
 	/* stop the tracing. */
diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_sysprof.c b/kernel/trace/trace_sysprof.c
index 05f753422aea..54960edb96d0 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_sysprof.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_sysprof.c
@@ -261,11 +261,12 @@ static void stop_stack_trace(struct trace_array *tr)
 	mutex_unlock(&sample_timer_lock);
 }
 
-static void stack_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
+static int stack_trace_init(struct trace_array *tr)
 {
 	sysprof_trace = tr;
 
 	start_stack_trace(tr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void stack_trace_reset(struct trace_array *tr)