diff --git a/atmel-samd/boards/samd21x18-bootloader.ld b/atmel-samd/boards/samd21x18-bootloader.ld
index 89ff084fb7..b43c292b16 100644
--- a/atmel-samd/boards/samd21x18-bootloader.ld
+++ b/atmel-samd/boards/samd21x18-bootloader.ld
@@ -64,5 +64,13 @@ SECTIONS
         _ebss = .;
     } >RAM
 
+    /* this just checks there is enough RAM for a minimal stack */
+    .stack :
+    {
+        . = ALIGN(4);
+        . = . + 0x800; /* Reserve a minimum of 2K for the stack. */
+        . = ALIGN(4);
+    } >RAM
+
     .ARM.attributes 0 : { *(.ARM.attributes) }
 }
diff --git a/atmel-samd/boards/samd21x18.ld b/atmel-samd/boards/samd21x18.ld
index 0f1168c578..995d2754fa 100644
--- a/atmel-samd/boards/samd21x18.ld
+++ b/atmel-samd/boards/samd21x18.ld
@@ -63,5 +63,13 @@ SECTIONS
         _ebss = .;
     } >RAM
 
+    /* this just checks there is enough RAM for a minimal stack */
+    .stack :
+    {
+        . = ALIGN(4);
+        . = . + 0x800; /* Reserve a minimum of 2K for the stack. */
+        . = ALIGN(4);
+    } >RAM
+
     .ARM.attributes 0 : { *(.ARM.attributes) }
 }