diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/merge_config.sh b/scripts/kconfig/merge_config.sh
index efa4733..ec8e203 100755
--- a/scripts/kconfig/merge_config.sh
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/merge_config.sh
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 	echo "  -O    dir to put generated output files"
 }
 
-MAKE=true
+RUNMAKE=true
 ALLTARGET=alldefconfig
 WARNREDUN=false
 OUTPUT=.
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 		continue
 		;;
 	"-m")
-		MAKE=false
+		RUNMAKE=false
 		shift
 		continue
 		;;
@@ -77,9 +77,19 @@
 	esac
 done
 
+if [ "$#" -lt 2 ] ; then
+	usage
+	exit
+fi
+
 INITFILE=$1
 shift;
 
+if [ ! -r "$INITFILE" ]; then
+	echo "The base file '$INITFILE' does not exist.  Exit." >&2
+	exit 1
+fi
+
 MERGE_LIST=$*
 SED_CONFIG_EXP="s/^\(# \)\{0,1\}\(CONFIG_[a-zA-Z0-9_]*\)[= ].*/\2/p"
 TMP_FILE=$(mktemp ./.tmp.config.XXXXXXXXXX)
@@ -93,25 +103,23 @@
 	CFG_LIST=$(sed -n "$SED_CONFIG_EXP" $MERGE_FILE)
 
 	for CFG in $CFG_LIST ; do
-		grep -q -w $CFG $TMP_FILE
-		if [ $? -eq 0 ] ; then
-			PREV_VAL=$(grep -w $CFG $TMP_FILE)
-			NEW_VAL=$(grep -w $CFG $MERGE_FILE)
-			if [ "x$PREV_VAL" != "x$NEW_VAL" ] ; then
+		grep -q -w $CFG $TMP_FILE || continue
+		PREV_VAL=$(grep -w $CFG $TMP_FILE)
+		NEW_VAL=$(grep -w $CFG $MERGE_FILE)
+		if [ "x$PREV_VAL" != "x$NEW_VAL" ] ; then
 			echo Value of $CFG is redefined by fragment $MERGE_FILE:
 			echo Previous  value: $PREV_VAL
 			echo New value:       $NEW_VAL
 			echo
-			elif [ "$WARNREDUN" = "true" ]; then
+		elif [ "$WARNREDUN" = "true" ]; then
 			echo Value of $CFG is redundant by fragment $MERGE_FILE:
-			fi
-			sed -i "/$CFG[ =]/d" $TMP_FILE
 		fi
+		sed -i "/$CFG[ =]/d" $TMP_FILE
 	done
 	cat $MERGE_FILE >> $TMP_FILE
 done
 
-if [ "$MAKE" = "false" ]; then
+if [ "$RUNMAKE" = "false" ]; then
 	cp $TMP_FILE $OUTPUT/.config
 	echo "#"
 	echo "# merged configuration written to $OUTPUT/.config (needs make)"