diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/Makefile b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/Makefile
index c24dc2e..386b3fd 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/Makefile
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ sysdep_routines += osf_select osf_gettimeofday osf_settimeofday \
 		   osf_getrusage osf_wait4
 
 # Support old ipc control
-sysdep_routines += oldsemctl oldshmctl
+sysdep_routines += oldshmctl
 
 CFLAGS-ioperm.c = -Wa,-mev6
 endif
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/semctl.c b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/semctl.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 4cb834a..0000000
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/semctl.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-#include <sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/arm/semctl.c>
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/syscalls.list b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/syscalls.list
index 54c1752..c12620a 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/syscalls.list
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/alpha/syscalls.list
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ shmget		-	shmget		i:iii	__shmget	shmget
 semop		-	semop		i:ipi	__semop		semop
 semtimedop	-	semtimedop	i:ipip	semtimedop
 semget		-	semget		i:iii	__semget	semget
-oldsemctl	EXTRA	semctl		i:iiii	__old_semctl	semctl@GLIBC_2.0
 
 sigstack	-	sigstack	2	sigstack
 
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/arm/semctl.c b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/arm/semctl.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 79d9d3e..0000000
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/arm/semctl.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,54 +0,0 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 1995-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-   This file is part of the GNU C Library.
-   Contributed by Ulrich Drepper <drepper@gnu.ai.mit.edu>, August 1995.
-
-   The GNU C Library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
-   modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
-   License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
-   version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
-
-   The GNU C Library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
-   Lesser General Public License for more details.
-
-   You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
-   License along with the GNU C Library.  If not, see
-   <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
-
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <stdarg.h>
-#include <sys/sem.h>
-#include <ipc_priv.h>
-#include <sysdep.h>
-#include <sys/syscall.h>
-
-
-/* Define a `union semun' suitable for Linux here.  */
-union semun
-{
-  int val;			/* value for SETVAL */
-  struct semid_ds *buf;		/* buffer for IPC_STAT & IPC_SET */
-  unsigned short int *array;	/* array for GETALL & SETALL */
-  struct seminfo *__buf;	/* buffer for IPC_INFO */
-};
-
-int
-__new_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
-{
-  union semun arg;
-  va_list ap;
-
-  va_start (ap, cmd);
-
-  /* Get the argument.  */
-  arg = va_arg (ap, union semun);
-
-  va_end (ap);
-
-  return INLINE_SYSCALL (semctl, 4, semid, semnum, cmd | __IPC_64,
-			 arg.array);
-}
-
-#include <shlib-compat.h>
-versioned_symbol (libc, __new_semctl, semctl, GLIBC_2_2);
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/generic/syscalls.list b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/generic/syscalls.list
index ad75223..f95f1f7 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/generic/syscalls.list
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/generic/syscalls.list
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 # SysV APIs
 semget		-	semget		i:iii	__semget	semget
-semctl		-	semctl		i:iiii	__semctl	semctl
 semtimedop	-	semtimedop	i:ipip	semtimedop
 semop		-	semop		i:ipi	__semop		semop
 shmget		-	shmget		i:iii	__shmget	shmget
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/hppa/syscalls.list b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/hppa/syscalls.list
index da2c9ab..5040ef3 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/hppa/syscalls.list
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/hppa/syscalls.list
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ shmget		-	shmget		i:iii	__shmget	shmget
 semop		-	semop		i:ipi	__semop		semop
 semtimedop      -       semtimedop      i:ipip  semtimedop
 semget		-	semget		i:iii	__semget	semget
-semctl		-	semctl		i:iiii	__semctl	semctl
 
 # proper socket implementations:
 accept		-	accept		Ci:iBN	__libc_accept	__accept accept
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/ia64/syscalls.list b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/ia64/syscalls.list
index 8056781..ca5cba4 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/ia64/syscalls.list
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/ia64/syscalls.list
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ shmget		-	shmget		i:iii	__shmget	shmget
 semop		-	semop		i:ipi	__semop		semop
 semtimedop	-	semtimedop	i:ipip	semtimedop
 semget		-	semget		i:iii	__semget	semget
-semctl		-	semctl		i:iiii	__semctl	semctl
 
 # proper socket implementations:
 accept		-	accept		Ci:iBN	__libc_accept	__accept accept
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/microblaze/semctl.c b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/microblaze/semctl.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 4cb834a..0000000
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/microblaze/semctl.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-#include <sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/arm/semctl.c>
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/mips/mips64/semctl.c b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/mips/mips64/semctl.c
index 1115a25..5a0c2a3 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/mips/mips64/semctl.c
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/mips/mips64/semctl.c
@@ -15,39 +15,11 @@
    License along with the GNU C Library.  If not, see
    <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
 
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <stdarg.h>
-#include <sys/sem.h>
-#include <ipc_priv.h>
-#include <sysdep.h>
-
-/* Define a `union semun' suitable for Linux here.  */
-union semun
-{
-  int val;			/* value for SETVAL */
-  struct semid_ds *buf;		/* buffer for IPC_STAT & IPC_SET */
-  unsigned short int *array;	/* array for GETALL & SETALL */
-  struct seminfo *__buf;	/* buffer for IPC_INFO */
-};
-
-int __semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...);
-
-int
-__semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
-{
-  union semun arg;
-  va_list ap;
-
-  va_start (ap, cmd);
-
-  /* Get the argument.  */
-  arg = va_arg (ap, union semun);
+#include <shlib-compat.h>
 
-  va_end (ap);
+#undef SHLIB_COMPAT
+#define SHLIB_COMPAT(a, b, c) 0
 
-  return INLINE_SYSCALL (semctl, 4, semid, semnum, cmd | __IPC_64,
-			 arg.array);
-}
+#define DEFAULT_VERSION GLIBC_2_0
 
-#include <shlib-compat.h>
-versioned_symbol (libc, __semctl, semctl, GLIBC_2_0);
+#include <sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/semctl.c>
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/s390/s390-64/syscalls.list b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/s390/s390-64/syscalls.list
index f23b379..09ab580 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/s390/s390-64/syscalls.list
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/s390/s390-64/syscalls.list
@@ -7,4 +7,3 @@ shmdt		-	shmdt		i:s	__shmdt		shmdt
 shmget		-	shmget		i:iii	__shmget	shmget
 semop		-	semop		i:ipi	__semop		semop
 semget		-	semget		i:iii	__semget	semget
-semctl		-	semctl		i:iiii	__semctl	semctl
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/semctl.c b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/semctl.c
index ee84a1e..dde2241 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/semctl.c
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/semctl.c
@@ -16,29 +16,12 @@
    License along with the GNU C Library; if not, see
    <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
 
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <stdarg.h>
 #include <sys/sem.h>
+#include <stdarg.h>
 #include <ipc_priv.h>
-
 #include <sysdep.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <sys/syscall.h>
 #include <shlib-compat.h>
-
-#include <kernel-features.h>
-
-struct __old_semid_ds
-{
-  struct __old_ipc_perm sem_perm;	/* operation permission struct */
-  __time_t sem_otime;			/* last semop() time */
-  __time_t sem_ctime;			/* last time changed by semctl() */
-  struct sem *__sembase;		/* ptr to first semaphore in array */
-  struct sem_queue *__sem_pending;	/* pending operations */
-  struct sem_queue *__sem_pending_last; /* last pending operation */
-  struct sem_undo *__undo;		/* ondo requests on this array */
-  unsigned short int sem_nsems;		/* number of semaphores in set */
-};
+#include <errno.h>
 
 /* Define a `union semun' suitable for Linux here.  */
 union semun
@@ -47,26 +30,19 @@ union semun
   struct semid_ds *buf;		/* buffer for IPC_STAT & IPC_SET */
   unsigned short int *array;	/* array for GETALL & SETALL */
   struct seminfo *__buf;	/* buffer for IPC_INFO */
-  struct __old_semid_ds *__old_buf;
 };
 
-/* Return identifier for array of NSEMS semaphores associated with
-   KEY.  */
-#if SHLIB_COMPAT (libc, GLIBC_2_0, GLIBC_2_2)
-int __old_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...);
+#ifndef DEFAULT_VERSION
+# define DEFAULT_VERSION GLIBC_2_2
 #endif
-int __new_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...);
 
-#if SHLIB_COMPAT (libc, GLIBC_2_0, GLIBC_2_2)
 int
-attribute_compat_text_section
-__old_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
+__new_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
 {
-  union semun arg;
+  union semun arg = { 0 };
   va_list ap;
 
   /* Get the argument only if required.  */
-  arg.buf = NULL;
   switch (cmd)
     {
     case SETVAL:        /* arg.val */
@@ -83,20 +59,29 @@ __old_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
       break;
     }
 
-  return INLINE_SYSCALL (ipc, 5, IPCOP_semctl, semid, semnum, cmd,
-			 &arg);
-}
-compat_symbol (libc, __old_semctl, semctl, GLIBC_2_0);
+#ifdef __ASSUME_DIRECT_SYSVIPC_SYSCALLS
+  return INLINE_SYSCALL_CALL (semctl, semid, semnum, cmd | __IPC_64,
+			      arg.array);
+#else
+  return INLINE_SYSCALL_CALL (ipc, IPCOP_semctl, semid, semnum, cmd | __IPC_64,
+			      SEMCTL_ARG_ADDRESS (arg));
 #endif
+}
+versioned_symbol (libc, __new_semctl, semctl, DEFAULT_VERSION);
+
 
+#if SHLIB_COMPAT (libc, GLIBC_2_0, GLIBC_2_2)
+/* Since semctl use a variadic argument for semid_ds there is not need to
+   define and tie the compatibility symbol to the old 'union semun'
+   definition.  */
 int
-__new_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
+attribute_compat_text_section
+__old_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
 {
-  union semun arg;
+  union semun arg = { 0 };
   va_list ap;
 
   /* Get the argument only if required.  */
-  arg.buf = NULL;
   switch (cmd)
     {
     case SETVAL:        /* arg.val */
@@ -113,8 +98,12 @@ __new_semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
       break;
     }
 
-  return INLINE_SYSCALL (ipc, 5, IPCOP_semctl, semid, semnum, cmd | __IPC_64,
-			 &arg);
+# ifdef __ASSUME_DIRECT_SYSVIPC_SYSCALLS
+  return INLINE_SYSCALL_CALL (semctl, semid, semnum, cmd, arg.array);
+# else
+  return INLINE_SYSCALL_CALL (ipc, IPCOP_semctl, semid, semnum, cmd,
+			      SEMCTL_ARG_ADDRESS (arg));
+# endif
 }
-
-versioned_symbol (libc, __new_semctl, semctl, GLIBC_2_2);
+compat_symbol (libc, __old_semctl, semctl, GLIBC_2_0);
+#endif
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/sparc/sparc64/semctl.c b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/sparc/sparc64/semctl.c
deleted file mode 100644
index a9ae4c6..0000000
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/sparc/sparc64/semctl.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,54 +0,0 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 1995-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-   This file is part of the GNU C Library.
-   Contributed by Ulrich Drepper <drepper@gnu.ai.mit.edu>, August 1995.
-
-   The GNU C Library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
-   modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
-   License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
-   version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
-
-   The GNU C Library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
-   Lesser General Public License for more details.
-
-   You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
-   License along with the GNU C Library; if not, see
-   <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
-
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <stdarg.h>
-#include <sys/sem.h>
-#include <ipc_priv.h>
-
-#include <sysdep.h>
-#include <sys/syscall.h>
-
-/* Define a `union semun' suitable for Linux here.  */
-union semun
-{
-  int val;			/* value for SETVAL */
-  struct semid_ds *buf;		/* buffer for IPC_STAT & IPC_SET */
-  unsigned short int *array;	/* array for GETALL & SETALL */
-  struct seminfo *__buf;	/* buffer for IPC_INFO */
-};
-
-/* Return identifier for array of NSEMS semaphores associated with
-   KEY.  */
-
-int
-semctl (int semid, int semnum, int cmd, ...)
-{
-  union semun arg;
-  va_list ap;
-
-  va_start (ap, cmd);
-
-  /* Get the argument.  */
-  arg = va_arg (ap, union semun);
-
-  va_end (ap);
-
-  return INLINE_SYSCALL (ipc, 5, IPCOP_semctl, semid, semnum, cmd,
-			 arg.array);
-}
diff --git a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/x86_64/syscalls.list b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/x86_64/syscalls.list
index 75b25a1..f3a1541 100644
--- a/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/x86_64/syscalls.list
+++ b/sysdeps/unix/sysv/linux/x86_64/syscalls.list
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ shmget		-	shmget		i:iii	__shmget	shmget
 semop		-	semop		i:ipi	__semop		semop
 semtimedop	-	semtimedop	i:ipip	semtimedop
 semget		-	semget		i:iii	__semget	semget
-semctl		-	semctl		i:iiii	__semctl	semctl
 syscall_clock_gettime	EXTRA	clock_gettime	Ei:ip		__syscall_clock_gettime
 
 
