Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Error: “gzip: stdout: No space left on device” during Linux kernel upgrade (while there is space)

Linux kernel upgrade error fix

Quick Answer: Check disk space and ensure /boot partition is not full, as the issue may be caused by a lack of space in the file system.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The 'gzip: stdout: No space left on device' error occurs during Linux kernel upgrades, affecting users who have made edits to their kernel configuration files. This issue can be frustrating for those attempting to upgrade their kernels, as it may seem counterintuitive that there is no space available despite checking the disk usage.

Despite thorough checks of disk space, this error can still occur due to various factors. In this guide, we will explore possible root causes and provide step-by-step solutions to resolve the issue.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that the `gzip` command is unable to compress the output of the kernel upgrade process due to a lack of available space on the disk. This can happen even if there appears to be sufficient space, as the compression process may still fail if the system runs out of memory or resources.
  • Another possible cause is that the kernel configuration files are not properly cleaned up after editing, resulting in temporary files and cache remaining on the disk. These files can occupy a significant amount of space, leading to the 'No space left on device' error during the upgrade process.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Cleaning Up Temporary Files and Checking Disk Space

  1. Step 1: Check if there are any temporary files or cache remaining in the kernel configuration directory by running the command `find /usr/src/linux-4.10.12 -type f -exec rm -rf {} \;`. This will remove any unnecessary files that may be occupying space on the disk.
  2. Step 2: Verify that the disk space is sufficient for the upgrade process by checking the available disk space using the command `df -h` as shown in your original output. If there is still no space left, consider increasing the disk size or deleting unnecessary files to free up space.
  3. Step 3: Run the `make clean` command to remove any temporary build artifacts and cleaned-up files from the kernel configuration directory.

Editing Kernel Configuration Files for Optimization

  1. Step 1: Review your kernel configuration files and optimize them for better performance. This may involve adjusting settings, removing unnecessary modules, or reconfiguring the kernel to use more efficient compression algorithms.
  2. Step 2: Use a tool like `make menuconfig` to review and adjust your kernel configuration settings. Be cautious when making changes, as incorrect configurations can lead to further issues during the upgrade process.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the 'gzip: stdout: No space left on device' error during Linux kernel upgrades, it is essential to identify and address the root cause of the issue. By following these steps, you should be able to clean up temporary files, check disk space, and optimize your kernel configuration files for better performance.

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