diff --git a/cpu/cortexm_common/include/cpu_conf_common.h b/cpu/cortexm_common/include/cpu_conf_common.h
index 6bd2b7ab33fc..76e8f44a88ed 100644
--- a/cpu/cortexm_common/include/cpu_conf_common.h
+++ b/cpu/cortexm_common/include/cpu_conf_common.h
@@ -162,6 +162,12 @@ extern "C" {
  *          and initialized with user provided data on cold boot.
  */
 #define BACKUP_RAM_DATA __attribute__((section(".backup.data")))
+
+/**
+ * @brief   Memory marked with this attribute is retained during deep sleep
+ *          and never initialized.
+ */
+#define BACKUP_RAM_NOINIT __attribute__((section(".backup.noinit")))
 #endif /* CPU_HAS_BACKUP_RAM */
 
 /**
diff --git a/cpu/cortexm_common/ldscripts/cortexm_base.ld b/cpu/cortexm_common/ldscripts/cortexm_base.ld
index 6dc5e0428f6b..4c730b003501 100644
--- a/cpu/cortexm_common/ldscripts/cortexm_base.ld
+++ b/cpu/cortexm_common/ldscripts/cortexm_base.ld
@@ -229,6 +229,12 @@ SECTIONS
         . = ALIGN(4);
     } > bkup_ram
 
+    .backup.noinit (NOLOAD) : ALIGN(4) {
+        _sbackup_noinit = .;
+        *(.backup.noinit)
+        _ebackup_noinit = .;
+    } > bkup_ram
+
     .heap3 (NOLOAD) : ALIGN(4) {
         _sheap1 = . ;
         _eheap1 = ORIGIN(bkup_ram) + LENGTH(bkup_ram);