diff --git a/arch/arm/src/Makefile b/arch/arm/src/Makefile
index e74c0cfc28b..e505b956da5 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/src/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ############################################################################
 # arch/arm/src/Makefile
 #
-#   Copyright (C) 2007-2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2015 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
+#   Copyright (C) 2007-2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2016 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 #   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -127,6 +127,11 @@ BIN  = libarch$(LIBEXT)
 
 LDFLAGS += $(ARCHSCRIPT)
 
+# Override in Make.defs if linker is not 'ld'
+
+LDSTARTGROUP ?= --start-group
+LDENDGROUP ?= --end-group
+
 EXTRA_LIBS ?=
 EXTRA_LIBPATHS ?=
 LINKLIBS ?=
@@ -198,7 +203,7 @@ nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT)
 	$(Q) echo "LD: nuttx"
 	$(Q) $(LD) --entry=__start $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) $(EXTRA_LIBPATHS) \
 		-o $(NUTTX) $(HEAD_OBJ) $(EXTRA_OBJS) \
-		--start-group $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) --end-group
+		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) $(LDENDGROUP)
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	$(Q) $(NM) $(NUTTX) | \
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
diff --git a/arch/avr/src/Makefile b/arch/avr/src/Makefile
index 2905a755652..84c19eca52a 100644
--- a/arch/avr/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/avr/src/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ############################################################################
 # arch/avr/src/Makefile
 #
-#   Copyright (C) 2010-2012, 2014 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
+#   Copyright (C) 2010-2012, 2014, 2016 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 #   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ COBJS = $(CSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
 SRCS = $(ASRCS) $(CSRCS)
 OBJS = $(AOBJS) $(COBJS)
 
+# Override in Make.defs if linker is not 'ld'
+
+LDSTARTGROUP ?= --start-group
+LDENDGROUP ?= --end-group
+
 LDFLAGS += $(ARCHSCRIPT)
 EXTRA_LIBS ?=
 LINKLIBS ?=
@@ -139,7 +144,7 @@ board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
 nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
 	@echo "LD: nuttx"
 	$(Q) $(LD) --entry=__start $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) -o $(NUTTX) $(HEAD_OBJ) $(EXTRA_OBJS) \
-		--start-group $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) --end-group
+		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) $(LDENDGROUP)
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	$(Q) $(NM) $(NUTTX) | \
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
diff --git a/arch/hc/src/Makefile b/arch/hc/src/Makefile
index fb165188fe1..efe3876f18c 100644
--- a/arch/hc/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/hc/src/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ############################################################################
 # arch/hc/src/Makefile
 #
-#   Copyright (C) 2009, 2011-2012, 2014 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
+#   Copyright (C) 2009, 2011-2012, 2014, 2016 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 #   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ COBJS = $(CSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
 SRCS = $(ASRCS) $(CSRCS)
 OBJS = $(AOBJS) $(COBJS)
 
+# Override in Make.defs if linker is not 'ld'
+
+LDSTARTGROUP ?= --start-group
+LDENDGROUP ?= --end-group
+
 LDFLAGS += $(ARCHSCRIPT)
 EXTRA_LIBS ?=
 LINKLIBS ?=
@@ -138,7 +143,7 @@ board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
 nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
 	$(Q) echo "LD: nuttx"
 	$(Q) $(LD) --entry=__start $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) -o $(NUTTX)$(EXEEXT) $(HEAD_OBJ) \
-		--start-group $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) --end-group
+		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) $(LDENDGROUP)
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	$(Q) $(NM) $(NUTTX)$(EXEEXT) | \
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
diff --git a/arch/mips/src/Makefile b/arch/mips/src/Makefile
index a746fd22301..9efc9af5776 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/mips/src/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ############################################################################
 # arch/mips/src/Makefile
 #
-#   Copyright (C) 2011-2012, 2014 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
+#   Copyright (C) 2011-2012, 2014, 2016 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 #   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ COBJS = $(CSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
 SRCS = $(ASRCS) $(CSRCS)
 OBJS = $(AOBJS) $(COBJS)
 
+# Override in Make.defs if linker is not 'ld'
+
+LDSTARTGROUP ?= --start-group
+LDENDGROUP ?= --end-group
+
 LDFLAGS += $(ARCHSCRIPT)
 EXTRA_LIBS ?=
 LINKLIBS ?=
@@ -136,7 +141,7 @@ board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
 nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
 	@echo "LD: nuttx"
 	$(Q) $(LD) --entry=__start $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) -o $(NUTTX)$(EXEEXT) $(HEAD_OBJ) $(EXTRA_OBJS) \
-		--start-group $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) --end-group
+		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) $(LDENDGROUP)
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	$(Q) $(NM) $(NUTTX)$(EXEEXT) | \
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
diff --git a/arch/rgmp/src/Makefile b/arch/rgmp/src/Makefile
index 1fb3618d96f..4fe3bbfbfd9 100644
--- a/arch/rgmp/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/rgmp/src/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ############################################################################
 # arch/rgmp/src/Makefile
 #
-#   Copyright (C) 2011-2012, 2014 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
+#   Copyright (C) 2011-2012, 2014, 2016 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 #   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -39,25 +39,30 @@ include $(CONFIG_RGMP_SUBARCH)/Make.defs
 RGMP_ARCH_ASRCS := $(addprefix $(CONFIG_RGMP_SUBARCH)/,$(RGMP_ARCH_ASRCS))
 RGMP_ARCH_CSRCS := $(addprefix $(CONFIG_RGMP_SUBARCH)/,$(RGMP_ARCH_CSRCS))
 
-CPPFLAGS	+= -I$(TOPDIR)/sched -I$(TOPDIR)/fs $(EXTRADEFINES)
-CFLAGS		+= -I$(TOPDIR)/sched -I$(TOPDIR)/fs $(EXTRADEFINES)
-CXXFLAGS	+= -I$(TOPDIR)/sched -I$(TOPDIR)/fs $(EXTRADEFINES)
+CPPFLAGS += -I$(TOPDIR)/sched -I$(TOPDIR)/fs $(EXTRADEFINES)
+CFLAGS += -I$(TOPDIR)/sched -I$(TOPDIR)/fs $(EXTRADEFINES)
+CXXFLAGS += -I$(TOPDIR)/sched -I$(TOPDIR)/fs $(EXTRADEFINES)
 
-ASRCS		= $(RGMP_ARCH_ASRCS)
-CSRCS		= nuttx.c cxx.c $(RGMP_ARCH_CSRCS)
-AOBJS		= $(ASRCS:.S=$(OBJEXT))
-COBJS		= $(CSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
+ASRCS = $(RGMP_ARCH_ASRCS)
+CSRCS = nuttx.c cxx.c $(RGMP_ARCH_CSRCS)
+AOBJS = $(ASRCS:.S=$(OBJEXT))
+COBJS = $(CSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
 
-SRCS		= $(ASRCS) $(CSRCS)
-OBJS		= $(AOBJS) $(COBJS)
+SRCS = $(ASRCS) $(CSRCS)
+OBJS = $(AOBJS) $(COBJS)
 
-LINKSRCS    = rgmp.c bridge.c
-LINKOBJS    = $(LINKSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
+LINKSRCS = rgmp.c bridge.c
+LINKOBJS = $(LINKSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
 
-LDFLAGS		+= -T$(RGMPLKSCPT)
-LDLIBS		= $(patsubst %.a,%,$(patsubst lib%,-l%,$(LINKLIBS)))
-LIBPATHS		+= -L"$(TOPDIR)/lib" -L$(RGMPLIBDIR)
-LDLIBS		+= -lrgmp $(shell "$(CC)" -print-libgcc-file-name)
+# Override in Make.defs if linker is not 'ld'
+
+LDSTARTGROUP ?= --start-group
+LDENDGROUP ?= --end-group
+
+LDFLAGS += -T$(RGMPLKSCPT)
+LDLIBS = $(patsubst %.a,%,$(patsubst lib%,-l%,$(LINKLIBS)))
+LIBPATHS += -L"$(TOPDIR)/lib" -L$(RGMPLIBDIR)
+LDLIBS += -lrgmp $(shell "$(CC)" -print-libgcc-file-name)
 
 all: libarch$(LIBEXT)
 
@@ -79,7 +84,7 @@ libarch$(LIBEXT): $(OBJS)
 
 nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(LINKOBJS)
 	@echo "LD:  nuttx$(EXEEXT)"
-	@$(LD) $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) $(LINKOBJS) --start-group $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) --end-group -o $(TOPDIR)/$@
+	@$(LD) $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) $(LINKOBJS) $(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LDENDGROUP) -o $(TOPDIR)/$@
 	@$(OBJDUMP) -S $(TOPDIR)/$@ > $(TOPDIR)/nuttx.asm
 	@$(NM) -n $(TOPDIR)/$@ > $(TOPDIR)/nuttx.sym
 	@$(OBJCOPY) -S -O binary $(TOPDIR)/$@ nuttx.img
diff --git a/arch/sh/src/Makefile b/arch/sh/src/Makefile
index 967818df2a8..81e0b5b8c14 100644
--- a/arch/sh/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/sh/src/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ############################################################################
 # arch/sh/src/Makefile
 #
-#   Copyright (C) 2008, 2011-2012, 2014 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
+#   Copyright (C) 2008, 2011-2012, 2014, 2016 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 #   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ COBJS = $(CSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
 SRCS = $(ASRCS) $(CSRCS)
 OBJS = $(AOBJS) $(COBJS)
 
+# Override in Make.defs if linker is not 'ld'
+
+LDSTARTGROUP ?= --start-group
+LDENDGROUP ?= --end-group
+
 LDFLAGS += $(ARCHSCRIPT)
 EXTRA_LIBS ?=
 LINKLIBS ?=
@@ -134,7 +139,7 @@ board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
 nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
 	@echo "LD: nuttx"
 	$(Q) $(LD) --entry=__start $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) -o $(TOPDIR)/$@ $(HEAD_OBJ) \
-		--start-group $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) --end-group
+		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) $(LDENDGROUP)
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	$(Q) $(NM) $(TOPDIR)/$@ | \
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/Makefile b/arch/sim/src/Makefile
index 406ac4ee934..1e3f52744ad 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/sim/src/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ############################################################################
 # arch/sim/src/Makefile
 #
-#   Copyright (C) 2007, 2008, 2011-2012, 2014 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
+#   Copyright (C) 2007, 2008, 2011-2012, 2014, 2016 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 #   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -154,6 +154,11 @@ ifeq ($(CONFIG_SIM_X11FB),y)
   STDLIBS += -lX11 -lXext
 endif
 
+# Override in Make.defs if linker is not 'ld'
+
+LDSTARTGROUP ?= --start-group
+LDENDGROUP ?= --end-group
+
 EXTRA_LIBS ?=
 EXTRA_LIBPATHS ?=
 
@@ -245,7 +250,7 @@ endif
 
 nuttx.rel : libarch$(LIBEXT) board/libboard$(LIBEXT) $(HOSTOS)-names.dat $(LINKOBJS)
 	$(Q) echo "LD:  nuttx.rel"
-	$(Q) $(LD) -r $(LDLINKFLAGS) $(RELPATHS) $(EXTRA_LIBPATHS) -o $@ $(REQUIREDOBJS) --start-group $(RELLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) --end-group
+	$(Q) $(LD) -r $(LDLINKFLAGS) $(RELPATHS) $(EXTRA_LIBPATHS) -o $@ $(REQUIREDOBJS) $(LDSTARTGROUP) $(RELLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LDENDGROUP)
 	$(Q) $(OBJCOPY) --redefine-syms=$(HOSTOS)-names.dat $@
 
 # Generate the final NuttX binary by linking the host-specific objects with the NuttX
diff --git a/arch/x86/src/Makefile b/arch/x86/src/Makefile
index f38bcee148d..16fbc8206c1 100644
--- a/arch/x86/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/x86/src/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ############################################################################
 # arch/x86/src/Makefile
 #
-#   Copyright (C) 2011-2012, 2014 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
+#   Copyright (C) 2011-2012, 2014, 2016 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 #   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -80,6 +80,11 @@ COBJS = $(CSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))
 SRCS = $(ASRCS) $(CSRCS)
 OBJS = $(AOBJS) $(COBJS)
 
+# Override in Make.defs if linker is not 'ld'
+
+LDSTARTGROUP ?= --start-group
+LDENDGROUP ?= --end-group
+
 LDFLAGS += $(ARCHSCRIPT)
 EXTRA_LIBS ?=
 LINKLIBS ?=
@@ -144,7 +149,7 @@ board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
 nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
 	@echo "LD: nuttx$(EXEEXT)"
 	$(Q) $(LD) --entry=__start $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) -o $(NUTTX)$(EXEEXT) $(HEAD_OBJ) $(EXTRA_OBJS) \
-		--start-group $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) --end-group
+		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LIBGCC) $(LDENDGROUP)
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	$(Q) $(NM) $(NUTTX)$(EXEEXT) | \
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \