diff --git a/boards/arm/cxd56xx/spresense/scripts/Make.defs b/boards/arm/cxd56xx/spresense/scripts/Make.defs
index b400aab0cc..1918d56656 100644
--- a/boards/arm/cxd56xx/spresense/scripts/Make.defs
+++ b/boards/arm/cxd56xx/spresense/scripts/Make.defs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_DEBUG_NOOPT),y)
   ARCHOPTIMIZATION += $(MAXOPTIMIZATION) -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-strength-reduce -fomit-frame-pointer
 endif
 
-ARCHCFLAGS = -fno-builtin -mabi=aapcs
+ARCHCFLAGS = -fno-builtin -mabi=aapcs -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections
 ARCHCXXFLAGS = -fno-builtin -fno-exceptions -fno-rtti -std=c++98
 ARCHWARNINGS = -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -Wshadow -Wundef
 ARCHWARNINGSXX = -Wall -Wshadow -Wundef
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ OBJEXT = .o
 LIBEXT = .a
 EXEEXT =
 
+LDFLAGS += --gc-sections
+
 ifneq ($(CROSSDEV),arm-nuttx-elf-)
   LDFLAGS += -nostartfiles -nodefaultlibs
 endif