diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/cc2538.lds b/cpu/cc2538/cc2538.lds
index 60a37c796..adb7f6ccd 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/cc2538.lds
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/cc2538.lds
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ MEMORY
 #endif
 }
 
+ENTRY(flash_cca_lock_page)
 SECTIONS
 {
     .text :
@@ -110,6 +111,6 @@ SECTIONS
 
     .flashcca :
     {
-        KEEP(*(.flashcca))
+        *(.flashcca)
     } > FLASH_CCA
 }
diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/startup-gcc.c b/cpu/cc2538/startup-gcc.c
index d3d6ec401..d01aefa50 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/startup-gcc.c
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/startup-gcc.c
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ void(*const vectors[])(void) =
   default_handler,            /* 162 MACTimer */
 };
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
-__attribute__((__section__(".flashcca"), __used__))
+__attribute__((__section__(".flashcca")))
 const flash_cca_lock_page_t flash_cca_lock_page = {
   FLASH_CCA_BOOTLDR_CFG,        /* Boot loader backdoor configuration */
   FLASH_CCA_IMAGE_VALID,        /* Image valid */