diff -Naurp ld/scripttempl/avr.sc ld/scripttempl/avr.sc
--- ld/scripttempl/avr.sc	2011-03-22 01:37:42.000000000 +0530
+++ ld/scripttempl/avr.sc	2012-07-24 12:13:29.000000000 +0530
@@ -161,7 +161,10 @@ SECTIONS
   .data	${RELOCATING-0} : ${RELOCATING+AT (ADDR (.text) + SIZEOF (.text))}
   {
     ${RELOCATING+ PROVIDE (__data_start = .) ; }
-    *(.data)
+    /* --gc-sections will delete empty .data. This leads to wrong start
+       addresses for subsequent sections because -Tdata= from the command
+       line will have no effect, see PR13697.  Thus, keep .data  */
+    KEEP (*(.data))
     *(.data*)
     *(.rodata)  /* We need to include .rodata here if gcc is used */
     *(.rodata*) /* with -fdata-sections.  */
@@ -195,7 +198,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
   .eeprom ${RELOCATING-0}:
   {
-    *(.eeprom*)
+    KEEP(*(.eeprom*))
     ${RELOCATING+ __eeprom_end = . ; }
   } ${RELOCATING+ > eeprom}