diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 66816b2e..3b7d1a58 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -60,8 +60,12 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE([libevent-install],
      AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-libevent-install, disable installation of libevent]),
 	[], [enable_libevent_install=yes])
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([libevent-regress],
-     AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-libevent-regress, skip regress in  make check]),
+     AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-libevent-regress, skip regress in make check]),
 	[], [enable_libevent_regress=yes])
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([function-sections],
+     AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-function-sections, make static library allow smaller binaries with --gc-sections]),
+	[], [enable_function_sections=no])
+
 
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 
@@ -655,7 +659,7 @@ if test x$enable_gcc_warnings = xyes && test "$GCC" = "yes"; then
 fi
 
 LIBEVENT_GC_SECTIONS=
-if test "$GCC" = yes ; then
+if test "$GCC" = yes && test "$enable_function_sections" = yes ; then
     AC_CACHE_CHECK(
 	[if linker supports omitting unused code and data],
 	[libevent_cv_gc_sections_works],