diff --git a/soc/xtensa/intel_adsp/common/bootloader/start_address.S b/soc/xtensa/intel_adsp/common/bootloader/start_address.S
index fae7e3a85a8..5a7807a7aae 100644
--- a/soc/xtensa/intel_adsp/common/bootloader/start_address.S
+++ b/soc/xtensa/intel_adsp/common/bootloader/start_address.S
@@ -21,4 +21,10 @@
 __start:
 	movi	a0, 0
 	call0	_start		 /* jump to _start (in crt1-*.S) */
+
+	/* never returns */
+
+	.size	__start, . - __start
+
+	.end	literal_prefix
 #endif