diff --git a/meta/classes-global/staging.bbclass b/meta/classes-global/staging.bbclass
index 1008867a6c..7083878c73 100644
--- a/meta/classes-global/staging.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-global/staging.bbclass
@@ -91,10 +91,12 @@ python sysroot_strip () {
     base_libdir = d.getVar("base_libdir")
     qa_already_stripped = 'already-stripped' in (d.getVar('INSANE_SKIP:' + pn) or "").split()
     strip_cmd = d.getVar("STRIP")
+    keep_sections = d.getVar('PACKAGE_KEEP_SECTIONS') or ""
 
     max_process = oe.utils.get_bb_number_threads(d)
     oe.package.strip_execs(pn, dstdir, strip_cmd, libdir, base_libdir, max_process,
-                           qa_already_stripped=qa_already_stripped)
+                           qa_already_stripped=qa_already_stripped,
+                           keep_sections=keep_sections)
 }
 
 do_populate_sysroot[dirs] = "${SYSROOT_DESTDIR}"
diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/kernel.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/kernel.bbclass
index 617727a989..d3d3d9fa65 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/kernel.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/kernel.bbclass
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ python do_strip() {
     if (extra_sections and kernel_image.find(d.getVar('KERNEL_IMAGEDEST') + '/vmlinux') != -1):
         kernel_image_stripped = kernel_image + ".stripped"
         shutil.copy2(kernel_image, kernel_image_stripped)
-        oe.package.runstrip((kernel_image_stripped, 8, strip, extra_sections))
+        oe.package.runstrip((kernel_image_stripped, 8, strip), '', extra_sections)
         bb.debug(1, "KERNEL_IMAGE_STRIP_EXTRA_SECTIONS is set, stripping sections: " + \
             extra_sections)
 }
diff --git a/meta/lib/oe/package.py b/meta/lib/oe/package.py
index 1af10b7eb0..468f331fce 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oe/package.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oe/package.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import shutil
 
 import oe.cachedpath
 
-def runstrip(arg):
+def runstrip(arg, keep_sections='', extra_strip_sections=''):
     # Function to strip a single file, called from split_and_strip_files below
     # A working 'file' (one which works on the target architecture)
     #
@@ -27,12 +27,7 @@ def runstrip(arg):
     # 4 - executable
     # 8 - shared library
     # 16 - kernel module
-
-    if len(arg) == 3:
-        (file, elftype, strip) = arg
-        extra_strip_sections = ''
-    else:
-        (file, elftype, strip, extra_strip_sections) = arg
+    (file, elftype, strip) = arg
 
     newmode = None
     if not os.access(file, os.W_OK) or os.access(file, os.R_OK):
@@ -60,6 +55,10 @@ def runstrip(arg):
             for section in extra_strip_sections.split():
                 stripcmd.extend(["--remove-section=" + section])
 
+    if keep_sections != '' and not elftype & 16:
+        for section in keep_sections.split():
+            stripcmd.extend(["--keep-section=" + section])
+
     stripcmd.append(file)
     bb.debug(1, "runstrip: %s" % stripcmd)
 
@@ -115,7 +114,8 @@ def is_static_lib(path):
             return start == magic
     return False
 
-def strip_execs(pn, dstdir, strip_cmd, libdir, base_libdir, max_process, qa_already_stripped=False):
+def strip_execs(pn, dstdir, strip_cmd, libdir, base_libdir, max_process, qa_already_stripped=False,
+                keep_sections=''):
     """
     Strip executable code (like executables, shared libraries) _in_place_
     - Based on sysroot_strip in staging.bbclass
@@ -194,7 +194,8 @@ def strip_execs(pn, dstdir, strip_cmd, libdir, base_libdir, max_process, qa_alre
         elf_file = int(elffiles[file])
         sfiles.append((file, elf_file, strip_cmd))
 
-    oe.utils.multiprocess_launch_mp(runstrip, sfiles, max_process)
+    oe.utils.multiprocess_launch_mp(runstrip, sfiles, max_process,
+                                    extraargs=(keep_sections, ''))
 
 TRANSLATE = (
     ("@", "@at@"),
@@ -1305,7 +1306,9 @@ def process_split_and_strip_files(d):
             for f in staticlibs:
                 sfiles.append((f, 16, strip))
 
-        oe.utils.multiprocess_launch(oe.package.runstrip, sfiles, d)
+        keep_sections = d.getVar('PACKAGE_KEEP_SECTIONS') or ""
+        oe.utils.multiprocess_launch(oe.package.runstrip, sfiles, d,
+                                     extraargs=(keep_sections, ''))
 
     # Build "minidebuginfo" and reinject it back into the stripped binaries
     if bb.utils.contains('DISTRO_FEATURES', 'minidebuginfo', True, False, d):