Linux/AM4376: Issue with new SDK

Tool/software: Linux

It seems that with the new kernel 4.9.69 we had to comment out the below line of code arch/arm/mach-omap2 /omap_hwmod_43xx_data.c to be able to boot the kernel. We are not using the internal RTC on the AM437 but we have an external RTC connected to the I2C on the am437.  This code did not exist with the kernel 4.4.36. Can you explain why this code in red was added to the new kernel? Also why by removing it we can boot the kernel??

omap_hwmod_43xx_data.c that I am able to completely linux.

static struct omap_hwmod_ocp_if *am43xx_rtc_hwmod_ocp_ifs[] __initdata = {
    &am33xx_l4_wkup__rtc,
    NULL,
};

int __init am43xx_hwmod_init(void)
{
    int ret;

    omap_hwmod_am43xx_reg();
    omap_hwmod_init();
    ret = omap_hwmod_register_links(am43xx_hwmod_ocp_ifs);

#if 0
***** This code was not in the 4.4.36 kernel - if not executed, kernel boots with
our hardware, otherwise, linux appears not to boot (no console output).
***

    if (!ret && of_machine_is_compatible("ti,am4372"))
        ret = omap_hwmod_register_links(am43xx_rtc_hwmod_ocp_ifs);
#endif

    return ret;
}

thanks