diff --git a/include/arch/arm/cortex_m/scripts/linker.ld b/include/arch/arm/cortex_m/scripts/linker.ld
index 1c907d02b2d..54714245f3e 100644
--- a/include/arch/arm/cortex_m/scripts/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/arm/cortex_m/scripts/linker.ld
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
     GROUP_START(CCM)
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_CCM_BSS_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD OPTIONAL),SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_CCM_BSS_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD),SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		__ccm_start = .;
 		__ccm_bss_start = .;
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
 	__ccm_bss_end = .;
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_CCM_NOINIT_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD OPTIONAL),SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_CCM_NOINIT_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD),SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		__ccm_noinit_start = .;
 		*(.ccm_noinit)
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
 	__ccm_noinit_end = .;
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_CCM_DATA_SECTION_NAME, (OPTIONAL),SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_CCM_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		__ccm_data_start = .;
 		*(.ccm_data)
diff --git a/include/arch/posix/native_tasks.ld b/include/arch/posix/native_tasks.ld
index 03474743c79..dac7d32e242 100644
--- a/include/arch/posix/native_tasks.ld
+++ b/include/arch/posix/native_tasks.ld
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 		KEEP(*(SORT(.native_##level[1-9][0-9]_task)));		\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(.native_##level[1-9][0-9][0-9]_task)));	\
 
-SECTION_PROLOGUE (native_pre_tasks, (OPTIONAL),)
+SECTION_PROLOGUE (native_pre_tasks,,)
 {
 	__native_tasks_start = .;
 	NATIVE_INIT_LEVEL(PRE_BOOT_1)
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ SECTION_PROLOGUE (native_pre_tasks, (OPTIONAL),)
 	NATIVE_INIT_LEVEL(FIRST_SLEEP)
 	NATIVE_INIT_LEVEL(ON_EXIT)
 	__native_tasks_end = .;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/include/arch/x86/linker.ld b/include/arch/x86/linker.ld
index d6c9bf6a8b0..88a21728313 100644
--- a/include/arch/x86/linker.ld
+++ b/include/arch/x86/linker.ld
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ SECTIONS
 	/* 16-bit sections */
 	. = PHYS_RAM_ADDR;
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(boot, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(boot,,)
 	{
 	*(.boot)
 	. = ALIGN(16);
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ SECTIONS
 #else
 	_image_text_start = .;
 #endif
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_TEXT_SECTION_NAME, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_TEXT_SECTION_NAME,,)
 	{
 	. = CONFIG_TEXT_SECTION_OFFSET;
 	*(.text_start)
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
 #include <linker/common-rom.ld>
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_RODATA_SECTION_NAME, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_RODATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
 	{
 	*(.rodata)
 	*(".rodata.*")
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ SECTIONS
 	GROUP_START(RAMABLE_REGION)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_COVERAGE_GCOV
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_GCOV_BSS_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_GCOV_BSS_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD),)
 	{
 		MMU_PAGE_ALIGN
 		__gcov_bss_start = .;
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ SECTIONS
 	_app_smem_num_words = _app_smem_size >> 2;
 #endif /* CONFIG_USERSPACE */
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_BSS_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_BSS_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD),)
 	{
 	MMU_PAGE_ALIGN
 #if !defined(CONFIG_USERSPACE)
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
 	__bss_num_words	= (__bss_end - __bss_start) >> 2;
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_NOINIT_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_NOINIT_SECTION_NAME, (NOLOAD),)
 	{
 	/*
 	 * This section is used for non-initialized objects that
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, RAMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_DATA_SECTION_NAME,,)
 	{
 
 	__data_ram_start = .;
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ SECTIONS
 	 * However, __mmu_tables_start *must* remain stable between builds,
 	 * we can't have anything shifting the memory map beforehand.
 	 */
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(mmu_tables, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(mmu_tables,,)
 	{
 	/* Page Tables are located here if MMU is enabled.*/
 	MMU_PAGE_ALIGN
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
 #ifndef LINKER_PASS2
 	/* static interrupts */
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(intList, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(intList,,)
 	{
 	KEEP(*(.spurIsr))
 	KEEP(*(.spurNoErrIsr))
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_X86_MMU
 	/* Memory management unit*/
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(mmulist, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(mmulist,,)
 	{
 	/* get size of the mmu lists needed for gen_mmu_x86.py*/
 	LONG((__MMU_LIST_END__ - __MMU_LIST_START__) / __MMU_REGION_SIZEOF)
diff --git a/include/linker/common-ram.ld b/include/linker/common-ram.ld
index 108b4100f95..9e44626a377 100644
--- a/include/linker/common-ram.ld
+++ b/include/linker/common-ram.ld
@@ -1,35 +1,35 @@
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(initlevel, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(initlevel,,)
 	{
 		DEVICE_INIT_SECTIONS()
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_GEN_ISR_TABLES) && defined(CONFIG_DYNAMIC_INTERRUPTS)
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(sw_isr_table, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(sw_isr_table,,)
 	{
 		*(SW_ISR_TABLE)
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 #endif
 
 	/* verify we don't have rogue .init_<something> initlevel sections */
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(initlevel_error, (OPTIONAL), )
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(initlevel_error,,)
 	{
 		DEVICE_INIT_UNDEFINED_SECTION()
 	}
 	ASSERT(SIZEOF(initlevel_error) == 0, "Undefined initialization levels used.")
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(initshell, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(initshell,,)
 	{
 		SHELL_INIT_SECTIONS()
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(log_dynamic_sections, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(log_dynamic_sections,,)
 	{
 		__log_dynamic_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT(.log_dynamic_*)));
 		__log_dynamic_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_static_thread_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_static_thread_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_static_thread_data_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT_BY_NAME("._static_thread_data.static.*")))
@@ -47,83 +47,83 @@
 	_static_kernel_objects_begin = .;
 #endif /* CONFIG_USERSPACE */
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_timer_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_timer_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_timer_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_timer.static.*"))
 		_k_timer_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_mem_slab_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_mem_slab_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_mem_slab_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_mem_slab.static.*"))
 		_k_mem_slab_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_mem_pool_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_mem_pool_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_mem_pool_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_mem_pool.static.*"))
 		_k_mem_pool_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_sem_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_sem_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_sem_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_sem.static.*"))
 		_k_sem_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_mutex_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_mutex_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_mutex_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_mutex.static.*"))
 		_k_mutex_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_queue_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_queue_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_queue_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_queue.static.*"))
 		_k_queue_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_stack_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_stack_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_stack_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_stack.static.*"))
 		_k_stack_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_msgq_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_msgq_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_msgq_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_msgq.static.*"))
 		_k_msgq_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_mbox_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_mbox_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_mbox_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_mbox.static.*"))
 		_k_mbox_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_pipe_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_k_pipe_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_k_pipe_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*("._k_pipe.static.*"))
 		_k_pipe_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_net_buf_pool_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_net_buf_pool_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_net_buf_pool_list = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT_BY_NAME("._net_buf_pool.static.*")))
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(net_if, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(net_if,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		__net_if_start = .;
 		*(".net_if.*")
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
 		__net_if_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(net_if_dev, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(net_if_dev,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		__net_if_dev_start = .;
 		*(".net_if_dev.*")
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_NET_SHELL)
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(net_stack, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(net_stack,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		__net_stack_start = .;
 		*(".net_stack.*")
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 #endif /* CONFIG_NET_SHELL */
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(net_l2_data, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(net_l2_data,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		__net_l2_data_start = .;
 		*(".net_l2.data")
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_USB_DEVICE_STACK)
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(usb_descriptor, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(1))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(usb_descriptor,,SUBALIGN(1))
 	{
 		__usb_descriptor_start = .;
 		*(".usb.descriptor")
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
 		__usb_descriptor_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(usb_data, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(1))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(usb_data,,SUBALIGN(1))
 	{
 		__usb_data_start = .;
 		*(".usb.data")
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
 #endif /* CONFIG_USB_DEVICE_STACK */
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_USB_DEVICE_BOS)
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(usb_bos_desc, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(1))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(usb_bos_desc,,SUBALIGN(1))
 	{
 		__usb_bos_desc_start = .;
 		*(".usb.bos_desc")
diff --git a/include/linker/common-rom.ld b/include/linker/common-rom.ld
index 5384349c6f6..6adccaa9dd5 100644
--- a/include/linker/common-rom.ld
+++ b/include/linker/common-rom.ld
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #if defined(CONFIG_GEN_ISR_TABLES) && !defined(CONFIG_DYNAMIC_INTERRUPTS)
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(sw_isr_table, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(sw_isr_table,,)
 	{
 		*(SW_ISR_TABLE)
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 		__CTOR_END__ = .;
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(init_array, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(init_array,,)
 	{
 		. = ALIGN(4);
 		__init_array_start = .;
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 	/* Build-time assignment of permissions to kernel objects to
 	 * threads declared with K_THREAD_DEFINE()
 	 */
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(object_access, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(object_access,,)
 	{
 		__object_access_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(".object_access.*"))
@@ -42,14 +42,14 @@
 	}
 #endif
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(app_shmem_regions, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(app_shmem_regions,,)
 	{
 		__app_shmem_regions_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT(".app_regions.*")));
 		__app_shmem_regions_end = .;
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE (devconfig, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE (devconfig,,)
 	{
 		__devconfig_start = .;
 		*(".devconfig.*")
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 		__devconfig_end = .;
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(net_l2, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(net_l2,,)
 	{
 		__net_l2_start = .;
 		*(".net_l2.init")
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_BT_SETTINGS)
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_bt_settings_area, (OPTIONAL), SUBALIGN(4))
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_bt_settings_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
 		_bt_settings_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT_BY_NAME("._bt_settings.static.*")))
@@ -74,28 +74,28 @@
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 #endif
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(log_const_sections, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(log_const_sections,,)
 	{
 		__log_const_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT(.log_const_*)));
 		__log_const_end = .;
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(log_backends_sections, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(log_backends_sections,,)
 	{
 		__log_backends_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(".log_backends"));
 		__log_backends_end = .;
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(shell_root_cmds_sections, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(shell_root_cmds_sections,,)
 	{
 		__shell_root_cmds_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT(.shell_root_cmd_*)));
 		__shell_root_cmds_end = .;
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(font_entry_sections, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(font_entry_sections,,)
 	{
 		__font_entry_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT_BY_NAME(".font_entry.*")))
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_COVERAGE_GCOV
 	/* Section needed by gcov when coverage is turned on.*/
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE (gcov, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE (gcov,,)
 	{
 		PROVIDE_HIDDEN (__init_array_start = .);
 		KEEP (*(SORT(.init_array.*)))
diff --git a/include/linker/kobject.ld b/include/linker/kobject.ld
index 43c77c1bf7b..a75be341919 100644
--- a/include/linker/kobject.ld
+++ b/include/linker/kobject.ld
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 	 * *and* the specific memory addresses being hashed. It is not something
 	 * that can be predicted without actually building and compling it.
          */
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(kobject_data, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(kobject_data,,)
 	{
 	*(".kobject_data.data*")
 
diff --git a/include/linker/linker-tool-gcc.h b/include/linker/linker-tool-gcc.h
index 72b67df65e7..a0c44f1301c 100644
--- a/include/linker/linker-tool-gcc.h
+++ b/include/linker/linker-tool-gcc.h
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@
 #endif
 
 #define SORT_BY_NAME(x) SORT(x)
-#define OPTIONAL
 
 #define COMMON_SYMBOLS *(COMMON)
 
diff --git a/include/linker/priv_stacks.ld b/include/linker/priv_stacks.ld
index 1ea43d0245f..6151cb26d02 100644
--- a/include/linker/priv_stacks.ld
+++ b/include/linker/priv_stacks.ld
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 	 * *and* the specific memory addresses being hashed. It is not something
 	 * that can be predicted without actually building and compling it.
          */
-	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(priv_stacks, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(priv_stacks,,)
 	{
 	*(".priv_stacks.data*")
 
diff --git a/scripts/gen_app_partitions.py b/scripts/gen_app_partitions.py
index dcdab841b90..0cc95ba8e51 100644
--- a/scripts/gen_app_partitions.py
+++ b/scripts/gen_app_partitions.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ footer_template = """
 """
 
 linker_start_seq = """
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_APP_SMEM_SECTION_NAME, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_APP_SMEM_SECTION_NAME,,)
 	{
 		APP_SHARED_ALIGN;
 		_app_smem_start = .;
diff --git a/scripts/gen_relocate_app.py b/scripts/gen_relocate_app.py
index 143577acae5..aa5ff5a2bbc 100644
--- a/scripts/gen_relocate_app.py
+++ b/scripts/gen_relocate_app.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ LINKER_SECTION_SEQ = """
 
 /* Linker section for memory region {2} for  {3} section  */
 
-	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_{2}_{3}_SECTION_NAME, (OPTIONAL),)
+	SECTION_PROLOGUE(_{2}_{3}_SECTION_NAME,,)
         {{
                 . = ALIGN(4);
                 {4}
diff --git a/soc/x86_64/x86_64/linker.ld b/soc/x86_64/x86_64/linker.ld
index 871c5dc44d7..1d472b5d403 100644
--- a/soc/x86_64/x86_64/linker.ld
+++ b/soc/x86_64/x86_64/linker.ld
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
  * and ELF segment definitions
  */
 #define SORT_BY_NAME(x) SORT(x)
-#define OPTIONAL
 #define SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(name, opts, align) name opts : align
 #define SECTION_PROLOGUE(name, opts, align)      name opts : align
 #define GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(v, l) :ram