diff --git a/libsel4test/include/sel4test/test.h b/libsel4test/include/sel4test/test.h
index 86522e582..62476b4c2 100644
--- a/libsel4test/include/sel4test/test.h
+++ b/libsel4test/include/sel4test/test.h
@@ -96,10 +96,16 @@ typedef struct test_type {
     test_result_t (*run_test)(struct testcase *test, uintptr_t e);
 } ALIGN(32) test_type_t;
 
+#if defined(__has_attribute) && __has_attribute(retain)
+#define ATTR_USED_RETAIN __attribute__((used,retain))
+#else
+#define ATTR_USED_RETAIN __attribute__((used))
+#endif
+
 /* Declare a test type.
  * For now, we put the test types in a separate elf section. */
 #define DEFINE_TEST_TYPE(_name, _id, _set_up_test_type, _tear_down_test_type, _set_up, _tear_down, _run_test) \
-    __attribute__((used)) __attribute__((section("_test_type"))) struct test_type TEST_TYPE_ ##_name = { \
+    ATTR_USED_RETAIN __attribute__((section("_test_type"))) struct test_type TEST_TYPE_ ##_name = { \
     .name = #_name, \
     .id = _id, \
     .set_up_test_type = _set_up_test_type, \
@@ -133,6 +139,16 @@ typedef struct testcase ALIGN(sizeof(struct testcase)) testcase_t;
  * C99 style (name = _name, desc = _desc, func = _func...) to make sure
  * that it is accepted by C++ compilers.
  */
+#if defined(__has_attribute) && __has_attribute(retain)
+#define DEFINE_TEST_WITH_TYPE(_name, _description, _function, _test_type, _enabled) \
+    __attribute__((used,retain)) __attribute__((section("_test_case"))) struct testcase TEST_ ## _name = { \
+    #_name, \
+    _description, \
+    (test_fn)_function, \
+    _test_type, \
+    _enabled, \
+};
+#else
 #define DEFINE_TEST_WITH_TYPE(_name, _description, _function, _test_type, _enabled) \
     __attribute__((used)) __attribute__((section("_test_case"))) struct testcase TEST_ ## _name = { \
     #_name, \
@@ -141,6 +157,7 @@ typedef struct testcase ALIGN(sizeof(struct testcase)) testcase_t;
     _test_type, \
     _enabled, \
 };
+#endif
 
 #define DEFINE_TEST(_name, _description, _function, _enabled) DEFINE_TEST_WITH_TYPE(_name, _description, _function, BASIC, _enabled)