diff --git a/include/nuttx/compiler.h b/include/nuttx/compiler.h
index dcafb0a6e9d..26d132d9657 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/compiler.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/compiler.h
@@ -233,6 +233,20 @@
 #  define used_code __attribute__((used))
 #  define used_data __attribute__((used))
 
+/* The allocation function annonations */
+
+#  if __GNUC__ >= 11
+#    define malloc_like __attribute__((__malloc__(__builtin_free, 1)))
+#    define malloc_like1(a) __attribute__((__malloc__(__builtin_free, 1))) __attribute__((__alloc_size__(a)))
+#    define malloc_like2(a, b) __attribute__((__malloc__(__builtin_free, 1))) __attribute__((__alloc_size__(a, b)))
+#    define realloc_like(a) __attribute__((__alloc_size__(a)))
+#  else
+#    define malloc_like __attribute__((__malloc__))
+#    define malloc_like1(a) __attribute__((__malloc__)) __attribute__((__alloc_size__(a)))
+#    define malloc_like2(a, b) __attribute__((__malloc__)) __attribute__((__alloc_size__(a, b)))
+#    define realloc_like(a) __attribute__((__alloc_size__(a)))
+#  endif
+
 /* Some versions of GCC have a separate __syslog__ format.
  * http://mail-index.netbsd.org/source-changes/2015/10/14/msg069435.html
  * Use it if available. Otherwise, assume __printf__ accepts %m.
@@ -481,6 +495,11 @@
 #  define used_code
 #  define used_data
 
+#  define malloc_like
+#  define malloc_like1(a)
+#  define malloc_like2(a, b)
+#  define realloc_like(a)
+
 #  define formatlike(a)
 #  define printflike(a, b)
 #  define sysloglike(a, b)
@@ -612,6 +631,10 @@
 #  define unused_data
 #  define used_code
 #  define used_data
+#  define malloc_like
+#  define malloc_like1(a)
+#  define malloc_like2(a, b)
+#  define realloc_like(a)
 #  define formatlike(a)
 #  define printflike(a, b)
 #  define sysloglike(a, b)
@@ -714,6 +737,10 @@
 #  define unused_data
 #  define used_code
 #  define used_data
+#  define malloc_like
+#  define malloc_like1(a)
+#  define malloc_like2(a, b)
+#  define realloc_like(a)
 #  define formatlike(a)
 #  define printflike(a, b)
 #  define sysloglike(a, b)
@@ -795,6 +822,10 @@
 #  define unused_data
 #  define used_code
 #  define used_data
+#  define malloc_like
+#  define malloc_like1(a)
+#  define malloc_like2(a, b)
+#  define realloc_like(a)
 #  define formatlike(a)
 #  define printflike(a, b)
 #  define sysloglike(a, b)
@@ -851,6 +882,10 @@
 #  define unused_data
 #  define used_code
 #  define used_data
+#  define malloc_like
+#  define malloc_like1(a)
+#  define malloc_like2(a, b)
+#  define realloc_like(a)
 #  define formatlike(a)
 #  define printflike(a, b)
 #  define sysloglike(a, b)
diff --git a/include/nuttx/mm/mm.h b/include/nuttx/mm/mm.h
index 2cdd2324a15..b08a6df78be 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/mm/mm.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/mm/mm.h
@@ -180,12 +180,12 @@ void kmm_addregion(FAR void *heapstart, size_t heapsize);
 
 /* Functions contained in mm_malloc.c ***************************************/
 
-FAR void *mm_malloc(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, size_t size);
+FAR void *mm_malloc(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, size_t size) malloc_like1(2);
 
 /* Functions contained in kmm_malloc.c **************************************/
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_KERNEL_HEAP
-FAR void *kmm_malloc(size_t size);
+FAR void *kmm_malloc(size_t size) malloc_like1(1);
 #endif
 
 /* Functions contained in mm_malloc_size.c **********************************/
@@ -211,32 +211,33 @@ void kmm_free(FAR void *mem);
 /* Functions contained in mm_realloc.c **************************************/
 
 FAR void *mm_realloc(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, FAR void *oldmem,
-                     size_t size);
+                     size_t size) realloc_like(3);
 
 /* Functions contained in kmm_realloc.c *************************************/
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_KERNEL_HEAP
-FAR void *kmm_realloc(FAR void *oldmem, size_t newsize);
+FAR void *kmm_realloc(FAR void *oldmem, size_t newsize) realloc_like(2);
 #endif
 
 /* Functions contained in mm_calloc.c ***************************************/
 
-FAR void *mm_calloc(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, size_t n, size_t elem_size);
+FAR void *mm_calloc(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, size_t n,
+                    size_t elem_size) malloc_like2(2, 3);
 
 /* Functions contained in kmm_calloc.c **************************************/
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_KERNEL_HEAP
-FAR void *kmm_calloc(size_t n, size_t elem_size);
+FAR void *kmm_calloc(size_t n, size_t elem_size) malloc_like2(1, 2);
 #endif
 
 /* Functions contained in mm_zalloc.c ***************************************/
 
-FAR void *mm_zalloc(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, size_t size);
+FAR void *mm_zalloc(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, size_t size) malloc_like1(2);
 
 /* Functions contained in kmm_zalloc.c **************************************/
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_KERNEL_HEAP
-FAR void *kmm_zalloc(size_t size);
+FAR void *kmm_zalloc(size_t size) malloc_like1(1);
 #endif
 
 /* Functions contained in kmm_memdump.c *************************************/
@@ -248,12 +249,12 @@ void kmm_memdump(pid_t pid);
 /* Functions contained in mm_memalign.c *************************************/
 
 FAR void *mm_memalign(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, size_t alignment,
-                      size_t size);
+                      size_t size) malloc_like1(3);
 
 /* Functions contained in kmm_memalign.c ************************************/
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_KERNEL_HEAP
-FAR void *kmm_memalign(size_t alignment, size_t size);
+FAR void *kmm_memalign(size_t alignment, size_t size) malloc_like1(2);
 #endif
 
 /* Functions contained in mm_heapmember.c ***********************************/
diff --git a/include/stdio.h b/include/stdio.h
index 840a6a5818d..6e1dd5c98bc 100644
--- a/include/stdio.h
+++ b/include/stdio.h
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ int    vdprintf(int fd, FAR const IPTR char *fmt, va_list ap)
 
 FAR FILE *tmpfile(void);
 FAR char *tmpnam(FAR char *s);
-FAR char *tempnam(FAR const char *dir, FAR const char *pfx);
+FAR char *tempnam(FAR const char *dir, FAR const char *pfx) malloc_like;
 int       remove(FAR const char *path);
 
 /* Shell operations.  These are not actually implemented in the OS.  See
diff --git a/include/stdlib.h b/include/stdlib.h
index 4141b3a71cf..a915e407cec 100644
--- a/include/stdlib.h
+++ b/include/stdlib.h
@@ -213,14 +213,14 @@ size_t    wcstombs(FAR char *dst, FAR const wchar_t *src, size_t len);
 
 /* Memory Management */
 
-FAR void *malloc(size_t);
-FAR void *valloc(size_t);
+FAR void *malloc(size_t) malloc_like1(1);
+FAR void *valloc(size_t) malloc_like1(1);
 void      free(FAR void *);
-FAR void *realloc(FAR void *, size_t);
-FAR void *memalign(size_t, size_t);
-FAR void *zalloc(size_t);
-FAR void *calloc(size_t, size_t);
-FAR void *aligned_alloc(size_t, size_t);
+FAR void *realloc(FAR void *, size_t) realloc_like(2);
+FAR void *memalign(size_t, size_t) malloc_like1(2);
+FAR void *zalloc(size_t) malloc_like1(1);
+FAR void *calloc(size_t, size_t) malloc_like2(1, 2);
+FAR void *aligned_alloc(size_t, size_t) malloc_like1(2);
 int       posix_memalign(FAR void **, size_t, size_t);
 
 /* Pseudo-Terminals */
diff --git a/include/string.h b/include/string.h
index 7e449fe6ed5..f876ae8f8c5 100644
--- a/include/string.h
+++ b/include/string.h
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ extern "C"
 #define EXTERN extern
 #endif
 
-FAR char  *strdup(FAR const char *s);
-FAR char  *strndup(FAR const char *s, size_t size);
+FAR char  *strdup(FAR const char *s) malloc_like;
+FAR char  *strndup(FAR const char *s, size_t size) malloc_like;
 FAR char  *strerror(int);
 int        strerror_r(int, FAR char *, size_t);
 size_t     strlen(FAR const char *);