diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cc7567eceb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# The following lines of boilerplate have to be in your project's
+# CMakeLists in this exact order for cmake to work correctly
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.5)
+
+include($ENV{IDF_PATH}/tools/cmake/project.cmake)
+project(ldgen_test)
+
+idf_build_get_property(python PYTHON)
+idf_build_get_property(elf EXECUTABLE)
+
+add_custom_command(
+    TARGET ${elf}
+    POST_BUILD
+    COMMAND ${python} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/check_placements.py ${CMAKE_OBJDUMP} $<TARGET_FILE:${elf}>
+)
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/README.txt b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/README.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..adc6d53e2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/README.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Runs a build test to check ldgen places libraries, objects and symbols
+correctly as specified in the linker fragments. Specifically, this app
+tests the placement for the main component, as specified in `main/linker.lf`
+The Python script that performs the checks, `check_placements.py`, automatically
+runs after the app is built.
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/check_placements.py b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/check_placements.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..21e7ab7606
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/check_placements.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#
+# Copyright 2020 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) PTE LTD
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+# Check placements in this test app for main
+# specified in main/linker.lf
+
+import argparse
+import subprocess
+
+from pyparsing import LineEnd, Literal, ParseException, SkipTo, Word, alphanums, hexnums
+
+argparser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+
+argparser.add_argument('objdump')
+argparser.add_argument('elf')
+
+args = argparser.parse_args()
+
+contents = subprocess.check_output([args.objdump, '-t', args.elf]).decode()
+
+
+def check_location(symbol, expected):
+    pattern = Word(alphanums + '._').setResultsName('actual') + Word(hexnums) + Literal(symbol) + LineEnd()
+    pattern = SkipTo(pattern) + pattern
+
+    try:
+        results = pattern.parseString(contents)
+    except ParseException:
+        print("check placement fail: '%s' was not found" % (symbol))
+        exit(1)
+
+    if results.actual != expected:
+        print("check placement fail: '%s' was placed in '%s', not in '%s'" % (symbol, results.actual, expected))
+        exit(1)
+
+    print("check placement pass: '%s' was successfully placed in '%s'" % (symbol, results.actual))
+
+
+# src1:func1 (noflash) - explicit mapping for func2 using 'rtc' scheme
+check_location('func1', '.iram0.text')
+
+# src1:func2 (rtc) - explicit mapping for func2 using 'rtc' scheme
+check_location('func2', '.rtc.text')
+
+# src1 (default) - only func3 in src1 remains that has not been
+# mapped using a different scheme
+check_location('func3', '.flash.text')
+
+# * (noflash) - no explicit mapping for src2
+check_location('func4', '.iram0.text')
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..466b45c56c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+idf_component_register(SRCS "src1.c" "src2.c" "test_main.c"
+                       INCLUDE_DIRS "."
+                       LDFRAGMENTS "linker.lf")
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/component.mk b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/component.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/linker.lf b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/linker.lf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b467f814ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/linker.lf
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+[mapping:main]
+archive: libmain.a
+entries:
+    * (noflash)
+    src1 (default)
+    src1:func1 (noflash)
+    src1:func2 (rtc)
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/src1.c b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/src1.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c8be4906da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/src1.c
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+void func1(void)
+{
+    printf("Hello from func1!\n");
+}
+
+void func2(void)
+{
+    printf("Hello from func2!\n");
+}
+
+void func3(void)
+{
+    printf("Hello from func3!\n");
+}
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/src2.c b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/src2.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bdcbee9606
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/src2.c
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+void func4(void)
+{
+    printf("Hello from func4!\n");
+}
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/test_main.c b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/test_main.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..37aaa6aecd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldgen_test/main/test_main.c
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+
+extern void func1(void);
+extern void func2(void);
+extern void func3(void);
+extern void func4(void);
+
+
+void app_main(void)
+{
+    func1();
+    func2();
+    func3();
+    func4();
+}