Symptom:

make[2]: Entering directory '/usr/src/kernels/5.17.1-1.el8.elrepo.x86_64'
Makefile:729: target 'include/config/auto.conf' does not exist
test -e include/generated/autoconf.h -a -e include/config/auto.conf || (                \
echo >&2;                                                       \
echo >&2 "  ERROR: Kernel configuration is invalid.";           \
echo >&2 "         include/generated/autoconf.h or include/config/auto.conf are missing.";\
echo >&2 "         Run 'make oldconfig && make prepare' on kernel src to fix it.";      \
echo >&2 ;                                                      \
/bin/false)
Makefile:1717: target 'prepare' does not exist
if [ "gcc (GCC) 8.5.0 20210514 (Red Hat 8.5.0-4)" != ""gcc (GCC) 8.5.0 20210514 (Red Hat 8.5.0-4)"" ]; then \
        echo >&2 "warning: the compiler differs from the one used to build the kernel"; \
        echo >&2 "  The kernel was built by: "gcc (GCC) 8.5.0 20210514 (Red Hat 8.5.0-4)""; \
        echo >&2 "  You are using:           gcc (GCC) 8.5.0 20210514 (Red Hat 8.5.0-4)"; \
fi
/bin/sh: -c: line 0: syntax error near unexpected token `('
/bin/sh: -c: line 0: `if [ "gcc (GCC) 8.5.0 20210514 (Red Hat 8.5.0-4)" != ""gcc (GCC) 8.5.0 20210514 (Red Hat 8.5.0-4)"" ]; then \'
make[2]: *** [Makefile:1717: prepare] Error 1
make[2]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/kernels/5.17.1-1.el8.elrepo.x86_64'


Note the double double-quotes in the GCC Version comparison !

This happens to me when I try to compile vmware kernel modules with mainline kernel from elrepo on AlamLinux8.

Since it is coming from the Makefile of the Kernel, I suppose this is the proper upstream tracker to be used. Please advise if not.


This is the potion of the Makefile that fails (line 1717..) : 
prepare:
	@if [ "$(CC_VERSION_TEXT)" != "$(CONFIG_CC_VERSION_TEXT)" ]; then \
		echo >&2 "warning: the compiler differs from the one used to build the kernel"; \
		echo >&2 "  The kernel was built by: $(CONFIG_CC_VERSION_TEXT)"; \
		echo >&2 "  You are using:           $(CC_VERSION_TEXT)"; \
	fi



I don't know where CONFIG_CC_VERSION_TEXT is defined. Which apparently contains "...", but shouldn't.