diff --git a/build/toolchain.arm-gcc.mak b/build/toolchain.arm-gcc.mak
index 2983111c6..3537011fe 100644
--- a/build/toolchain.arm-gcc.mak
+++ b/build/toolchain.arm-gcc.mak
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ endif
 
 ifeq ($(LTO),1)
 # Use link-time optimization if LTO=1
-SFLAGS += -flto -Wl,--gc-sections
-else
-# Otherwise, just get rid of unused symbols
-LDFLAGS += -Wl,--gc-sections
+SFLAGS += -flto
 endif
 
+# Get rid of unused symbols. This is also useful even if LTO=1.
+LDFLAGS += -Wl,--gc-sections
+
 LDFLAGS += $(SFLAGS) -lgcc -Wl,-T,$(LDSCRIPT)
 
 # To debug linker scripts, add the following line