diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_ChibiOS/hwdef/common/common.ld b/libraries/AP_HAL_ChibiOS/hwdef/common/common.ld
index a1644a499b..bdabc12869 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_ChibiOS/hwdef/common/common.ld
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_ChibiOS/hwdef/common/common.ld
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ SECTIONS
 
     .text : ALIGN(4) SUBALIGN(4)
     {
+        /* we want app_descriptor near the start of flash so a false
+           positive isn't found by the bootloader (eg. ROMFS) */
+        KEEP(*(.app_descriptor));
         *(.text)
         *(.text.*)
         *(.rodata)