diff --git a/cmake/modules/extensions.cmake b/cmake/modules/extensions.cmake
index 508964bd815..35fa6b3a0f8 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/extensions.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/extensions.cmake
@@ -5328,7 +5328,8 @@ function(add_llext_target target_name)
     # output a relocatable file. The output file suffix is changed so
     # the result looks like the object file it actually is.
     add_executable(${llext_lib_target} EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL ${source_files})
-    target_link_options(${llext_lib_target} PRIVATE -r)
+    target_link_options(${llext_lib_target} PRIVATE
+      $<TARGET_PROPERTY:linker,partial_linking>)
     set_target_properties(${llext_lib_target} PROPERTIES
       SUFFIX ${CMAKE_C_OUTPUT_EXTENSION})
     set(llext_lib_output $<TARGET_FILE:${llext_lib_target}>)