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The file kernel/trace/ftrace.c references the mcount() call to
convert the mcount() callers to nops. But because it references
mcount(), the mcount() address is placed in the relocation table.

The C version of recordmcount reads the relocation table of all
object files, and it will add all references to mcount to the
__mcount_loc table that is used to find the places that call mcount()
and change the call to a nop. When recordmcount finds the mcount reference
in kernel/trace/ftrace.o, it saves that location even though the code
is not a call, but references mcount as data.

On boot up, when all calls are converted to nops, the code has a safety
check to determine what op code it is actually replacing before it
replaces it. If that op code at the address does not match, then
a warning is printed and the function tracer is disabled.

The reference to mcount in ftrace.c, causes this warning to trigger,
since the reference is not a call...