diff --git a/kernel/trace/Makefile b/kernel/trace/Makefile
index c5e14ffd36ee..d662c1a64cd5 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/Makefile
+++ b/kernel/trace/Makefile
@@ -174,7 +174,13 @@ UNDEFINED_ALLOWLIST = __asan __gcov __kasan __kcsan __hwasan __sancov __sanitize
 		      $(shell $(NM) -u $(obj)/undefsyms_base.o 2>/dev/null | awk '{print $$2}')
 
 quiet_cmd_check_undefined = NM      $<
-      cmd_check_undefined = test -z "`$(NM) -u $< | grep -v $(addprefix -e , $(UNDEFINED_ALLOWLIST))`"
+      cmd_check_undefined = \
+          undefsyms=$$($(NM) -u $< | grep -v $(addprefix -e , $(UNDEFINED_ALLOWLIST)) || true); \
+          if [ -n "$$undefsyms" ]; then \
+              echo "Unexpected symbols in $<:" >&2; \
+              echo "$$undefsyms" >&2; \
+              false; \
+          fi
 
 $(obj)/%.o.checked: $(obj)/%.o $(obj)/undefsyms_base.o FORCE
 	$(call if_changed,check_undefined)