diff --git a/racket/src/start/config.inc b/racket/src/start/config.inc
index 0a5b631326..4c28f0fbfc 100644
--- a/racket/src/start/config.inc
+++ b/racket/src/start/config.inc
@@ -3,6 +3,13 @@
 
 #pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wwrite-strings"
 
+#if defined(__GNUC__)
+# define PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE __attribute__((used))
+#else
+# define PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE /* empty */
+#endif
+
+PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE
 char * volatile scheme_cmdline_exe_hack = (char *)
   ("[Replace me for EXE hack                                       "
    "                                                              ]");
@@ -14,6 +21,7 @@ char * volatile scheme_cmdline_exe_hack = (char *)
 #else
 # define GC_PRECISION_TYPE "c"
 #endif
+PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE
 char * volatile scheme_binary_type_hack = "bINARy tYPe:" INITIAL_BIN_TYPE GC_PRECISION_TYPE;
 /* The format of bINARy tYPe is e?[zr]i[3cs].
    e indicates a starter executable
@@ -29,6 +37,7 @@ char * volatile scheme_binary_type_hack = "bINARy tYPe:" INITIAL_BIN_TYPE GC_PRE
 # endif
 #endif
 
+PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE
 char * volatile scheme_coldir = "coLLECTs dIRECTORy:" /* <- this tag stays, so we can find it again */
                        INITIAL_COLLECTS_DIRECTORY 
                        "\0\0" /* <- 1st nul terminates path, 2nd terminates path list */
@@ -59,6 +68,7 @@ static int _coldir_offset = 19; /* Skip permanent tag */
 # endif
 #endif
 
+PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE
 char * volatile scheme_configdir = "coNFIg dIRECTORy:" /* <- this tag stays, so we can find it again */
                        INITIAL_CONFIG_DIRECTORY
                        "\0"
diff --git a/racket/src/start/ustart.c b/racket/src/start/ustart.c
index 7cd93cd19d..df9e67fb3c 100644
--- a/racket/src/start/ustart.c
+++ b/racket/src/start/ustart.c
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 
+#if defined(__GNUC__)
+# define PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE __attribute__((used))
+#else
+# define PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE /* empty */
+#endif
+
 /* The config string after : is replaced with ! followed by a sequence
    of little-endian 4-byte ints:
     start - offset into the binary
@@ -33,14 +39,17 @@
    adjusted. Using a seciton offset allows linking tools (such as
    `strip') to move the data in the executable.
 */
+PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE
 char *config = "cOnFiG:[***************************";
 
+PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE
 char *binary_type_hack = "bINARy tYPe:ezic";
 
 /* This path list is used instead of the one in the Racket/GRacket
    binary. That way, the same Racket/GRacket binary can be shared
    among embedding exectuables that have different collection
    paths. */
+PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE
 char *_coldir = "coLLECTs dIRECTORy:" /* <- this tag stays, so we can find it again */
                 "../collects"
                 "\0\0" /* <- 1st nul terminates path, 2nd terminates path list */
@@ -63,6 +72,7 @@ char *_coldir = "coLLECTs dIRECTORy:" /* <- this tag stays, so we can find it ag
 		"****************************************************************";
 static int _coldir_offset = 19; /* Skip permanent tag */
 
+PRESERVE_IN_EXECUTABLE
 char * volatile _configdir = "coNFIg dIRECTORy:" /* <- this tag stays, so we can find it again */
                        "../etc"
                        "\0"