diff --git a/ld/ChangeLog b/ld/ChangeLog
index 83fbe7c337..9ad7417b73 100644
--- a/ld/ChangeLog
+++ b/ld/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2016-08-31  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
+
+	PR 20513
+	* ldlang.c (section_already_linked): Deal with SHF_EXCLUDE sections.
+
 2016-08-31  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
 
 	* testsuite/ld-powerpc/vle-multiseg-1.d: Adjust to suit segment change.
diff --git a/ld/ldlang.c b/ld/ldlang.c
index aee8720777..07c218214d 100644
--- a/ld/ldlang.c
+++ b/ld/ldlang.c
@@ -2294,6 +2294,12 @@ section_already_linked (bfd *abfd, asection *sec, void *data)
       return;
     }
 
+  /* Deal with SHF_EXCLUDE ELF sections.  */
+  if (!bfd_link_relocatable (&link_info)
+      && (abfd->flags & BFD_PLUGIN) == 0
+      && (sec->flags & (SEC_GROUP | SEC_KEEP | SEC_EXCLUDE)) == SEC_EXCLUDE)
+    sec->output_section = bfd_abs_section_ptr;
+
   if (!(abfd->flags & DYNAMIC))
     bfd_section_already_linked (abfd, sec, &link_info);
 }