diff --git a/sys/conf/ldscript.riscv b/sys/conf/ldscript.riscv
index 5fe32aea178..3665b105827 100644
--- a/sys/conf/ldscript.riscv
+++ b/sys/conf/ldscript.riscv
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ SECTIONS
   .sdata     : { *(.sdata) }
   _edata  =  .;
   PROVIDE (edata = .);
+  /* Ensure __bss_start is associated with the next section in case orphan
+     sections are placed directly after .sdata, as has been seen to happen with
+     LLD.  */
+  . = .;
   __bss_start = .;
   .sbss      : { *(.sbss) *(.scommon) }
   .bss       :