diff --git a/arch/x86/include/asm/text-patching.h b/arch/x86/include/asm/text-patching.h
index e85ff65c43c3..5a2600370763 100644
--- a/arch/x86/include/asm/text-patching.h
+++ b/arch/x86/include/asm/text-patching.h
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ extern void *text_poke_early(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len);
  * On the local CPU you need to be protected again NMI or MCE handlers seeing an
  * inconsistent instruction while you patch.
  */
-extern void *text_poke(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len);
+extern int text_poke(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len);
+extern int text_poke_kgdb(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len);
 extern int poke_int3_handler(struct pt_regs *regs);
 extern void *text_poke_bp(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len, void *handler);
 extern int after_bootmem;
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c b/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
index ebeac487a20c..ebe9210dc92e 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/alternative.c
@@ -678,23 +678,12 @@ void *__init_or_module text_poke_early(void *addr, const void *opcode,
 	return addr;
 }
 
-/**
- * text_poke - Update instructions on a live kernel
- * @addr: address to modify
- * @opcode: source of the copy
- * @len: length to copy
- *
- * Only atomic text poke/set should be allowed when not doing early patching.
- * It means the size must be writable atomically and the address must be aligned
- * in a way that permits an atomic write. It also makes sure we fit on a single
- * page.
- */
-void *text_poke(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len)
+static int __text_poke(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len)
 {
 	unsigned long flags;
 	char *vaddr;
 	struct page *pages[2];
-	int i;
+	int i, r = 0;
 
 	/*
 	 * While boot memory allocator is runnig we cannot use struct
@@ -702,8 +691,6 @@ void *text_poke(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len)
 	 */
 	BUG_ON(!after_bootmem);
 
-	lockdep_assert_held(&text_mutex);
-
 	if (!core_kernel_text((unsigned long)addr)) {
 		pages[0] = vmalloc_to_page(addr);
 		pages[1] = vmalloc_to_page(addr + PAGE_SIZE);
@@ -712,7 +699,8 @@ void *text_poke(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len)
 		WARN_ON(!PageReserved(pages[0]));
 		pages[1] = virt_to_page(addr + PAGE_SIZE);
 	}
-	BUG_ON(!pages[0]);
+	if (!pages[0])
+		return -EFAULT;
 	local_irq_save(flags);
 	set_fixmap(FIX_TEXT_POKE0, page_to_phys(pages[0]));
 	if (pages[1])
@@ -727,9 +715,57 @@ void *text_poke(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len)
 	/* Could also do a CLFLUSH here to speed up CPU recovery; but
 	   that causes hangs on some VIA CPUs. */
 	for (i = 0; i < len; i++)
-		BUG_ON(((char *)addr)[i] != ((char *)opcode)[i]);
+		if (((char *)addr)[i] != ((char *)opcode)[i])
+			r = -EFAULT;
 	local_irq_restore(flags);
-	return addr;
+	return r;
+}
+
+/**
+ * text_poke - Update instructions on a live kernel
+ * @addr: address to modify
+ * @opcode: source of the copy
+ * @len: length to copy
+ *
+ * Only atomic text poke/set should be allowed when not doing early patching.
+ * It means the size must be writable atomically and the address must be aligned
+ * in a way that permits an atomic write. It also makes sure we fit on a single
+ * page.
+ */
+int text_poke(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len)
+{
+	int r;
+
+	lockdep_assert_held(&text_mutex);
+
+	r = __text_poke(addr, opcode, len);
+
+	/*
+	 * TODO: change the callers to consider the return value and remove this
+	 *       historical assertion.
+	 */
+	BUG_ON(r);
+
+	return r;
+}
+
+/**
+ * text_poke_kgdb - Update instructions on a live kernel by kgdb
+ * @addr: address to modify
+ * @opcode: source of the copy
+ * @len: length to copy
+ *
+ * Only atomic text poke/set should be allowed when not doing early patching.
+ * It means the size must be writable atomically and the address must be aligned
+ * in a way that permits an atomic write. It also makes sure we fit on a single
+ * page.
+ *
+ * Context: should only be used by kgdb, which ensures no other core is running,
+ *	    despite the fact it does not hold the text_mutex.
+ */
+int text_poke_kgdb(void *addr, const void *opcode, size_t len)
+{
+	return __text_poke(addr, opcode, len);
 }
 
 static void do_sync_core(void *info)
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/kgdb.c b/arch/x86/kernel/kgdb.c
index 8e36f249646e..8091b2e381d4 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/kgdb.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/kgdb.c
@@ -763,13 +763,15 @@ int kgdb_arch_set_breakpoint(struct kgdb_bkpt *bpt)
 	if (!err)
 		return err;
 	/*
-	 * It is safe to call text_poke() because normal kernel execution
+	 * It is safe to call text_poke_kgdb() because normal kernel execution
 	 * is stopped on all cores, so long as the text_mutex is not locked.
 	 */
 	if (mutex_is_locked(&text_mutex))
 		return -EBUSY;
-	text_poke((void *)bpt->bpt_addr, arch_kgdb_ops.gdb_bpt_instr,
-		  BREAK_INSTR_SIZE);
+	err = text_poke_kgdb((void *)bpt->bpt_addr, arch_kgdb_ops.gdb_bpt_instr,
+			     BREAK_INSTR_SIZE);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
 	err = probe_kernel_read(opc, (char *)bpt->bpt_addr, BREAK_INSTR_SIZE);
 	if (err)
 		return err;
@@ -788,12 +790,15 @@ int kgdb_arch_remove_breakpoint(struct kgdb_bkpt *bpt)
 	if (bpt->type != BP_POKE_BREAKPOINT)
 		goto knl_write;
 	/*
-	 * It is safe to call text_poke() because normal kernel execution
+	 * It is safe to call text_poke_kgdb() because normal kernel execution
 	 * is stopped on all cores, so long as the text_mutex is not locked.
 	 */
 	if (mutex_is_locked(&text_mutex))
 		goto knl_write;
-	text_poke((void *)bpt->bpt_addr, bpt->saved_instr, BREAK_INSTR_SIZE);
+	err = text_poke_kgdb((void *)bpt->bpt_addr, bpt->saved_instr,
+			     BREAK_INSTR_SIZE);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
 	err = probe_kernel_read(opc, (char *)bpt->bpt_addr, BREAK_INSTR_SIZE);
 	if (err || memcmp(opc, bpt->saved_instr, BREAK_INSTR_SIZE))
 		goto knl_write;
