diff --git a/bfd/ChangeLog b/bfd/ChangeLog
index 235bc66655..d41c0a611c 100644
--- a/bfd/ChangeLog
+++ b/bfd/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+2003-10-14  Kaz Kojima  <kkojima@rr.iij4u.or.jp>
+
+	* elf-bfd.h (struct elf_backend_data): New function pointer member
+	elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute.
+	* elflink.h (elf_link_add_object_symbols): Adjust call to
+	elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute if the backend defined it.
+        * elfxx-target.h (elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute): New macro.
+        (elfNN_bed): Add that to the initializer.
+
 2003-10-14  Bob Wilson  <bob.wilson@acm.org>
 
 	* elf32-xtensa.c (get_is_linkonce_section): Delete.
diff --git a/bfd/elf-bfd.h b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
index 99036949ad..bf73762ada 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-bfd.h
+++ b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
@@ -813,6 +813,11 @@ struct elf_backend_data
   void (*elf_backend_hide_symbol)
     (struct bfd_link_info *, struct elf_link_hash_entry *, bfd_boolean);
 
+  /* Merge the backend specific symbol attribute.  */
+  void (*elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute)
+    (struct elf_link_hash_entry *, const Elf_Internal_Sym *, bfd_boolean,
+     bfd_boolean);
+
   /* Emit relocations.  Overrides default routine for emitting relocs,
      except during a relocatable link, or if all relocs are being emitted.  */
   bfd_boolean (*elf_backend_emit_relocs)
diff --git a/bfd/elflink.h b/bfd/elflink.h
index bd94cbf4fc..71fdbaa303 100644
--- a/bfd/elflink.h
+++ b/bfd/elflink.h
@@ -1261,6 +1261,10 @@ elf_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	  /* If st_other has a processor-specific meaning, specific
 	     code might be needed here. We never merge the visibility
 	     attribute with the one from a dynamic object.  */
+	  if (bed->elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute)
+	    (*bed->elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute) (h, isym, definition,
+							dynamic);
+
 	  if (isym->st_other != 0 && !dynamic)
 	    {
 	      unsigned char hvis, symvis, other, nvis;
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-target.h b/bfd/elfxx-target.h
index 544f8f3647..2d1e5e2572 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-target.h
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-target.h
@@ -361,6 +361,9 @@
 #ifndef elf_backend_hide_symbol
 #define elf_backend_hide_symbol		_bfd_elf_link_hash_hide_symbol
 #endif
+#ifndef elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute
+#define elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute	NULL
+#endif
 #ifndef elf_backend_emit_relocs
 #define elf_backend_emit_relocs			NULL
 #endif
@@ -483,6 +486,7 @@ static const struct elf_backend_data elfNN_bed =
   elf_backend_output_arch_syms,
   elf_backend_copy_indirect_symbol,
   elf_backend_hide_symbol,
+  elf_backend_merge_symbol_attribute,
   elf_backend_emit_relocs,
   elf_backend_count_relocs,
   elf_backend_grok_prstatus,