diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 351356282..3c3add129 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1485,6 +1485,16 @@ dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 dnl ---------------------------------- debug ----------------------------------
 if test "x$enable_debug" = xno; then
 	AM_CPPFLAGS="$AM_CPPFLAGS -DNDEBUG"
+
+	AX_APPEND_COMPILE_FLAGS([-ffunction-sections])
+	AX_APPEND_COMPILE_FLAGS([-fdata-sections])
+
+	AC_LANG_PUSH([C++])
+	AX_APPEND_COMPILE_FLAGS([-ffunction-sections])
+	AX_APPEND_COMPILE_FLAGS([-fdata-sections])
+	AC_LANG_POP
+
+	AX_APPEND_LINK_FLAGS([-Wl,--gc-sections])
 fi
 
 dnl ----------------------------------- GCC -----------------------------------
diff --git a/m4/ax_append_link_flags.m4 b/m4/ax_append_link_flags.m4
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fc433700
--- /dev/null
+++ b/m4/ax_append_link_flags.m4
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+# ===========================================================================
+#   http://www.gnu.org/software/autoconf-archive/ax_append_link_flags.html
+# ===========================================================================
+#
+# SYNOPSIS
+#
+#   AX_APPEND_LINK_FLAGS([FLAG1 FLAG2 ...], [FLAGS-VARIABLE], [EXTRA-FLAGS])
+#
+# DESCRIPTION
+#
+#   For every FLAG1, FLAG2 it is checked whether the linker works with the
+#   flag.  If it does, the flag is added FLAGS-VARIABLE
+#
+#   If FLAGS-VARIABLE is not specified, the linker's flags (LDFLAGS) is
+#   used. During the check the flag is always added to the linker's flags.
+#
+#   If EXTRA-FLAGS is defined, it is added to the linker's default flags
+#   when the check is done.  The check is thus made with the flags: "LDFLAGS
+#   EXTRA-FLAGS FLAG".  This can for example be used to force the linker to
+#   issue an error when a bad flag is given.
+#
+#   NOTE: This macro depends on the AX_APPEND_FLAG and AX_CHECK_LINK_FLAG.
+#   Please keep this macro in sync with AX_APPEND_COMPILE_FLAGS.
+#
+# LICENSE
+#
+#   Copyright (c) 2011 Maarten Bosmans <mkbosmans@gmail.com>
+#
+#   This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+#   under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+#   Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your
+#   option) any later version.
+#
+#   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+#   WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+#   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
+#   Public License for more details.
+#
+#   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+#   with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+#   As a special exception, the respective Autoconf Macro's copyright owner
+#   gives unlimited permission to copy, distribute and modify the configure
+#   scripts that are the output of Autoconf when processing the Macro. You
+#   need not follow the terms of the GNU General Public License when using
+#   or distributing such scripts, even though portions of the text of the
+#   Macro appear in them. The GNU General Public License (GPL) does govern
+#   all other use of the material that constitutes the Autoconf Macro.
+#
+#   This special exception to the GPL applies to versions of the Autoconf
+#   Macro released by the Autoconf Archive. When you make and distribute a
+#   modified version of the Autoconf Macro, you may extend this special
+#   exception to the GPL to apply to your modified version as well.
+
+#serial 2
+
+AC_DEFUN([AX_APPEND_LINK_FLAGS],
+[for flag in $1; do
+  AX_CHECK_LINK_FLAG([$flag], [AX_APPEND_FLAG([$flag], [m4_default([$2], [LDFLAGS])])], [], [$3])
+done
+])dnl AX_APPEND_LINK_FLAGS