diff --git a/src/include/compiler.h b/src/include/compiler.h
index 16165b369..738655afa 100644
--- a/src/include/compiler.h
+++ b/src/include/compiler.h
@@ -191,6 +191,14 @@ REQUEST_EXPANDED ( CONFIG_SYMBOL );
  */
 #define __weak		__attribute__ (( weak, noinline ))
 
+/** Prevent a function from being optimized away without inlining
+ *
+ * Calls to functions with void return type that contain no code in their body
+ * may be removed by gcc's optimizer even when inlining is inhibited. Placing
+ * this macro in the body of the function prevents that from occurring.
+ */
+#define __keepme	asm("");
+
 #endif
 
 /** @defgroup dbg Debugging infrastructure
diff --git a/src/net/udp/dhcp.c b/src/net/udp/dhcp.c
index fb62bef53..77d465453 100644
--- a/src/net/udp/dhcp.c
+++ b/src/net/udp/dhcp.c
@@ -1389,7 +1389,7 @@ static struct sockaddr dhcp_peer = {
 /**
  * Get cached DHCPACK where none exists
  */
-__weak void get_cached_dhcpack ( void ) {}
+__weak void get_cached_dhcpack ( void ) { __keepme }
 
 /**
  * Start DHCP state machine on a network device