diff --git a/components/esp32/ld/esp32.ld b/components/esp32/ld/esp32.ld
index 22544af788..ffde663904 100644
--- a/components/esp32/ld/esp32.ld
+++ b/components/esp32/ld/esp32.ld
@@ -134,3 +134,12 @@ REGION_ALIAS("rtc_data_location", rtc_data_seg );
 #else
   REGION_ALIAS("default_rodata_seg", dram0_0_seg);
 #endif // CONFIG_APP_BUILD_USE_FLASH_SECTIONS
+
+/**
+ *  If rodata default segment is placed in `drom0_0_seg`, then flash's first rodata section must
+ *  also be first in the segment.
+ */
+#ifdef CONFIG_APP_BUILD_USE_FLASH_SECTIONS
+  ASSERT(_rodata_start == ORIGIN(default_rodata_seg),
+         ".flash.appdesc section must be placed at the beginning of the rodata segment.")
+#endif
diff --git a/components/esp32/ld/esp32.project.ld.in b/components/esp32/ld/esp32.project.ld.in
index 7e57064792..cc6538c423 100644
--- a/components/esp32/ld/esp32.project.ld.in
+++ b/components/esp32/ld/esp32.project.ld.in
@@ -233,13 +233,21 @@ SECTIONS
           "DRAM segment data does not fit.")
 
   /* When modifying the alignment, update tls_section_alignment in pxPortInitialiseStack */
-  .flash.rodata : ALIGN(0x10)
+  .flash.appdesc : ALIGN(0x10)
   {
     _rodata_start = ABSOLUTE(.);
 
     *(.rodata_desc .rodata_desc.*)               /* Should be the first.  App version info.        DO NOT PUT ANYTHING BEFORE IT! */
     *(.rodata_custom_desc .rodata_custom_desc.*) /* Should be the second. Custom app version info. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING BEFORE IT! */
 
+    /* Create an empty gap within this section. Thanks to this, the end of this
+     * section will match .flah.rodata's begin address. Thus, both sections
+     * will be merged when creating the final bin image. */
+    . = ALIGN(ALIGNOF(.flash.rodata));
+  } >default_rodata_seg
+
+  .flash.rodata : ALIGN(0x10)
+  {
     mapping[flash_rodata]
 
 
diff --git a/components/esp32c3/ld/esp32c3.ld b/components/esp32c3/ld/esp32c3.ld
index 7f897a1c91..63a26c4276 100644
--- a/components/esp32c3/ld/esp32c3.ld
+++ b/components/esp32c3/ld/esp32c3.ld
@@ -107,3 +107,12 @@ REGION_ALIAS("rtc_data_location", rtc_iram_seg );
 #else
   REGION_ALIAS("default_rodata_seg", dram0_0_seg);
 #endif // CONFIG_APP_BUILD_USE_FLASH_SECTIONS
+
+/**
+ *  If rodata default segment is placed in `drom0_0_seg`, then flash's first rodata section must
+ *  also be first in the segment.
+ */
+#if CONFIG_APP_BUILD_USE_FLASH_SECTIONS
+  ASSERT(_flash_rodata_dummy_start == ORIGIN(default_rodata_seg),
+         ".flash_rodata_dummy section must be placed at the beginning of the rodata segment.")
+#endif
diff --git a/components/esp32c3/ld/esp32c3.project.ld.in b/components/esp32c3/ld/esp32c3.project.ld.in
index a34486c8e3..86eb34d2d8 100644
--- a/components/esp32c3/ld/esp32c3.project.ld.in
+++ b/components/esp32c3/ld/esp32c3.project.ld.in
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ SECTIONS
    */
   .flash_rodata_dummy (NOLOAD):
   {
+    _flash_rodata_dummy_start = .;
     /* Start at the same alignement constraint than .flash.text */
     . = ALIGN(ALIGNOF(.flash.text));
     /* Create an empty gap as big as .flash.text section */
@@ -262,13 +263,21 @@ SECTIONS
   } > default_rodata_seg
 
   /* When modifying the alignment, don't forget to update tls_section_alignment in pxPortInitialiseStack */
-  .flash.rodata : ALIGN(0x10)
+  .flash.appdesc : ALIGN(0x10)
   {
     _rodata_start = ABSOLUTE(.);
 
     *(.rodata_desc .rodata_desc.*)               /* Should be the first.  App version info.        DO NOT PUT ANYTHING BEFORE IT! */
     *(.rodata_custom_desc .rodata_custom_desc.*) /* Should be the second. Custom app version info. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING BEFORE IT! */
 
+    /* Create an empty gap within this section. Thanks to this, the end of this
+     * section will match .flash.rodata's begin address. Thus, both sections
+     * will be merged when creating the final bin image. */
+    . = ALIGN(ALIGNOF(.flash.rodata));
+  } >default_rodata_seg
+
+  .flash.rodata : ALIGN(0x10)
+  {
     mapping[flash_rodata]
 
     *(.irom1.text) /* catch stray ICACHE_RODATA_ATTR */
diff --git a/components/esp32s2/ld/esp32s2.ld b/components/esp32s2/ld/esp32s2.ld
index 2ae61149ff..668d6fce6a 100644
--- a/components/esp32s2/ld/esp32s2.ld
+++ b/components/esp32s2/ld/esp32s2.ld
@@ -136,3 +136,13 @@ REGION_ALIAS("rtc_data_location", rtc_data_seg );
 #else
   REGION_ALIAS("default_rodata_seg", dram0_0_seg);
 #endif // CONFIG_APP_BUILD_USE_FLASH_SECTIONS
+
+
+/**
+ *  If rodata default segment is placed in `drom0_0_seg`, then flash's first rodata section must
+ *  also be first in the segment.
+ */
+#ifdef CONFIG_APP_BUILD_USE_FLASH_SECTIONS
+  ASSERT(_rodata_reserved_start == ORIGIN(default_rodata_seg),
+         ".flash.appdesc section must be placed at the beginning of the rodata segment.")
+#endif
diff --git a/components/esp32s2/ld/esp32s2.project.ld.in b/components/esp32s2/ld/esp32s2.project.ld.in
index 248cb8c39e..0928694458 100644
--- a/components/esp32s2/ld/esp32s2.project.ld.in
+++ b/components/esp32s2/ld/esp32s2.project.ld.in
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ SECTIONS
   } > dram0_0_seg
 
   /* When modifying the alignment, update tls_section_alignment in pxPortInitialiseStack */
-  .flash.rodata : ALIGN(0x10)
+  .flash.appdesc : ALIGN(0x10)
   {
     _rodata_reserved_start = ABSOLUTE(.);
     _rodata_start = ABSOLUTE(.);
@@ -260,6 +260,14 @@ SECTIONS
     *(.rodata_desc .rodata_desc.*)               /* Should be the first.  App version info.        DO NOT PUT ANYTHING BEFORE IT! */
     *(.rodata_custom_desc .rodata_custom_desc.*) /* Should be the second. Custom app version info. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING BEFORE IT! */
 
+    /* Create an empty gap within this section. Thanks to this, the end of this
+     * section will match .flah.rodata's begin address. Thus, both sections
+     * will be merged when creating the final bin image. */
+    . = ALIGN(ALIGNOF(.flash.rodata));
+  } >default_rodata_seg
+
+  .flash.rodata : ALIGN(0x10)
+  {
     mapping[flash_rodata]
 
     *(.irom1.text) /* catch stray ICACHE_RODATA_ATTR */
diff --git a/components/esp32s3/ld/esp32s3.ld b/components/esp32s3/ld/esp32s3.ld
index 1b7c3d1bb9..e6c3c7bce2 100644
--- a/components/esp32s3/ld/esp32s3.ld
+++ b/components/esp32s3/ld/esp32s3.ld
@@ -117,3 +117,12 @@ REGION_ALIAS("default_rodata_seg", drom0_0_seg);
 #else
 REGION_ALIAS("default_rodata_seg", dram0_0_seg);
 #endif // CONFIG_APP_BUILD_USE_FLASH_SECTIONS
+
+/**
+ *  If rodata default segment is placed in `drom0_0_seg`, then flash's first rodata section must
+ *  also be first in the segment.
+ */
+#if CONFIG_APP_BUILD_USE_FLASH_SECTIONS
+  ASSERT(_flash_rodata_dummy_start == ORIGIN(default_rodata_seg),
+         ".flash_rodata_dummy section must be placed at the beginning of the rodata segment.")
+#endif
diff --git a/components/esp32s3/ld/esp32s3.project.ld.in b/components/esp32s3/ld/esp32s3.project.ld.in
index f9efc14628..b3d0d25177 100644
--- a/components/esp32s3/ld/esp32s3.project.ld.in
+++ b/components/esp32s3/ld/esp32s3.project.ld.in
@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ SECTIONS
    */
   .flash_rodata_dummy (NOLOAD):
   {
+    _flash_rodata_dummy_start = .;
     /* Start at the same alignement constraint than .flash.text */
     . = ALIGN(ALIGNOF(.flash.text));
     /* Create an empty gap as big as .flash.text section */
@@ -293,13 +294,21 @@ SECTIONS
   } > default_rodata_seg
 
   /* When modifying the alignment, don't forget to update tls_section_alignment in pxPortInitialiseStack */
-  .flash.rodata : ALIGN(0x10)
+  .flash.appdesc : ALIGN(0x10)
   {
     _rodata_start = ABSOLUTE(.);
 
     *(.rodata_desc .rodata_desc.*)               /* Should be the first.  App version info.        DO NOT PUT ANYTHING BEFORE IT! */
     *(.rodata_custom_desc .rodata_custom_desc.*) /* Should be the second. Custom app version info. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING BEFORE IT! */
 
+    /* Create an empty gap within this section. Thanks to this, the end of this
+     * section will match .flah.rodata's begin address. Thus, both sections
+     * will be merged when creating the final bin image. */
+    . = ALIGN(ALIGNOF(.flash.rodata));
+  } >default_rodata_seg
+
+  .flash.rodata : ALIGN(0x10)
+  {
     mapping[flash_rodata]
 
     *(.irom1.text) /* catch stray ICACHE_RODATA_ATTR */
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..74eb8e8377
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# 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($ENV{IDF_PATH}/tools/cmake/project.cmake)
+project(ldalign_test)
+
+idf_build_get_property(python PYTHON)
+idf_build_get_property(elf EXECUTABLE)
+
+set(check_alignment  "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/check_alignment.py")
+set(readelf "${CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_PREFIX}readelf")
+
+add_custom_command(
+    TARGET ${elf}
+    POST_BUILD
+    COMMAND ${python} ${check_alignment} ${readelf} $<TARGET_FILE:${elf}>
+)
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/README.txt b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/README.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a6299c7fad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/README.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+Runs a build test to check alignment and position of `.flash.appdesc` and
+`.flash.rodata` sections. Indeed, `.flash.appdesc` shall ALWAYS be aligned on
+a 16-byte bounds, whereas `.flash.rodata` can have any alignment. In any case,
+the end address of first one shall match the start address of the second one.
+This will let both of them be merged when generating the final bin image.
+The Python script that performs the checks, `check_alignment.py`, automatically
+runs after the app is built.
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/check_alignment.py b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/check_alignment.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1f988fd9c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/check_alignment.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.
+#
+
+import argparse
+import re
+import subprocess
+from typing import Tuple
+
+argparser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+
+argparser.add_argument('readelf')
+argparser.add_argument('elf')
+
+args = argparser.parse_args()
+
+# Get the content of the readelf command
+contents = subprocess.check_output([args.readelf, '-S', args.elf]).decode()
+
+
+# Define a class for readelf parsing error
+class ParsingError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+# Look for the start address and size of any section
+def find_partition_info(sectionname):  # type: (str) -> Tuple[int, int, int]
+    match = re.search(sectionname + r'\s+PROGBITS\s+([a-f0-9]+) [a-f0-9]+ ([a-f0-9]+) \d+\s+[A-Z]+  0   0 (\d+)',
+                      contents)
+    if not match:
+        raise ParsingError('ELF header parsing error')
+    # Return the address of the section, the size and the alignment
+    address = match.group(1)
+    size = match.group(2)
+    alignment = match.group(3)
+    return (int(address, 16), int(size, 16), int(alignment, 10))
+
+
+# Get address and size for .flash.appdesc section
+app_address, app_size, app_align = find_partition_info('.flash.appdesc')
+
+# Same goes for .flash.rodata section
+rodata_address, _, rodata_align = find_partition_info('.flash.rodata')
+
+# Assert than everything is as expected:
+# appdesc is aligned on 16
+# rodata is aligned on 64
+# appdesc ends where rodata starts
+assert app_align == 16, '.flash.appdesc section should have been aligned on 16!'
+assert rodata_align == 64, '.flash.rodata section should have been aligned on 64!'
+assert app_address + app_size == rodata_address, ".flash.appdesc's end address and .flash.rodata's begin start must have no gap in between!"
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/main/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/main/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1df31fac80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/main/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+idf_component_register(SRCS "test_main.c"
+                       INCLUDE_DIRS ".")
diff --git a/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/main/test_main.c b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/main/test_main.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..160197ba59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test_apps/build_system/ldalign_test/main/test_main.c
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+const static uint32_t __attribute__ ((aligned (64))) testTab[] =
+  {
+   0xff445566, 0x44556677, 0x33221100,
+   0x88997755, 0x99887755, 0x88997755,
+   0x99546327, 0x7946fa9e, 0xa6b5f8ee,
+   0x12345678
+  };
+
+void app_main(void)
+{
+  /* Do something with the array, in order to avoid it being discarded. */
+  for (uint32_t i = 0; i < 10; i++)
+    printf ("%x\n", testTab[i]);
+}