Linux kernel 2.6.16.14 boot errors: udevd-event: udev_make_node and find_free_number

["Captain Wiggum" <captwiggum@gmail.com>]

My 2.6.15.4 booted without any errors or warnings. Now with 2.6.16.14 I
get the below errors. I have also installed 2.6.16.14 on another
computer, and it works great there. I stepped through every kernel
config option and everything is in place.

Any ideas? All suggestions appreciated.

Gentoo, gcc 3.4.4-r1, P4-1.5GHz, 512MB RAM, hp pavilion 7955.

-------------------------
BOOT, CONSOLE MESSAGES:

...<snip>...
* Populating /dev with saved device nodes ...                            [ ok ]
* Seeding /dev with needed nodes ...
cp: cannot create special file `/dev/null': File exists
cp: cannot create special file `/dev/zero': File exists                  [ ok ]
* Setting up proper hotplug agent ...
*   Using netlink for hotplug events...                                  [ ok ]
* Starting udevd ...                                                     [ ok ]
* Populating /dev with existing devices through uevents ...
udevd-event[1462]: udev_make_node: mknod(/dev/ttyS0, 020660, 4, 64)
failed: File exists
udevd-event[1463]: udev_make_node: mknod(/dev/ttyS1, 020660, 4, 65)
failed: File exists
udevd-event[1464]: udev_make_node: mknod(/dev/ttyS2, 020660, 4, 66)
failed: File exists
udevd-event[1465]: udev_make_node: mknod(/dev/ttyS3, 020660, 4, 67)
failed: File exists
                                                                         [ ok ]
* Letting udev process events ...
udevd-event[1984]: find_free_number: %e is deprecated, will be removed
and is unlikey to work correctly. Don't use it.
udevd-event[1986]: find_free_number: %e is deprecated, will be removed
and is unlikey to work correctly. Don't use it.
                     [ ok ]
* Finializing udev configuration ...                                     [ ok ]
...<snip>...