2005-05-05 H.J. Lu <hongjiu.lu@intel.com>

	* section.c (bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags): New.
	(bfd_make_section_anyway): Call bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags,
	(bfd_make_section_with_flags): New.
	(bfd_make_section): Call bfd_make_section_with_flags.

	* elf-m10300.c (_bfd_mn10300_elf_create_got_section): Call
	bfd_make_section_with_flags/bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags
	instead of bfd_make_section/bfd_make_section and don't call
	bfd_set_section_flags.
	(mn10300_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
	(_bfd_mn10300_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	* elf32-arm.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
	(bfd_elf32_arm_add_glue_sections_to_bfd): Likewise.
	(elf32_arm_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-cris.c (cris_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-frv.c (elf32_frv_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
	(_frv_create_got_section): Likewise.
	(elf32_frvfdpic_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	* elf32-hppa.c (elf32_hppa_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(elf32_hppa_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-i370.c (i370_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(i370_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-i386.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
	(elf_i386_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-m32r.c (m32r_elf_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
	(create_got_section): Likewise.
	(m32r_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(m32r_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-m68k.c (elf_m68k_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-ppc.c (ppc_elf_create_got): Likewise.
	(ppc_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(ppc_elf_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
	(ppc_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-s390.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
	(elf_s390_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-sh.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
	(sh_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(sh_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-vax.c (elf_vax_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-xstormy16.c (xstormy16_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf32-xtensa.c (elf_xtensa_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(add_extra_plt_sections): Likewise.
	* elf64-alpha.c (elf64_alpha_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
	(elf64_alpha_create_got_section): Likewise.
	(elf64_alpha_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(elf64_alpha_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf64-hppa.c (get_reloc_section): Likewise.
	(get_opd): Likewise.
	(get_plt): Likewise.
	(get_dlt): Likewise.
	(get_stub): Likewise.
	(elf64_hppa_create_dynamic_sectionso): Likewise.
	* elf64-mmix.c (mmix_elf_check_common_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf64-ppc.c (create_linkage_sections): Likewise.
	(ppc64_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf64-s390.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
	(elf_s390_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elf64-sh64.c (sh_elf64_check_relocs): Likewise.
	(sh64_elf64_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	* elf64-x86-64.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
	(elf64_x86_64_check_relocs): Likewise.
	* elflink.c (_bfd_elf_create_got_section): Likewise.
	(_bfd_elf_link_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(elf_link_add_object_symbols): Likewise.
	* elfxx-ia64.c (elfNN_ia64_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
	(elfNN_ia64_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	(get_fptr): Likewise.
	(get_pltoff): Likewise.
	(get_reloc_section): Likewise.
	(elfNN_ia64_object_p): Likewise.
	* elfxx-mips.c (mips_elf_rel_dyn_section): Likewise.
	(mips_elf_create_compact_rel_section): Likewise.
	(mips_elf_create_got_section): Likewise.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	* elfxx-sparc.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
	(_bfd_sparc_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.

	* elf.c (_bfd_elf_new_section_hook): Call _bfd_elf_get_sec_type_attr
	on linker created sections.

29 files changed, 640 insertions, 514 deletions

diff --git a/bfd/ChangeLog b/bfd/ChangeLog
index dadf6be4670..1f8c0566444 100644
--- a/bfd/ChangeLog
+++ b/bfd/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,87 @@
 2005-05-05  H.J. Lu  <hongjiu.lu@intel.com>
 
+	* section.c (bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags): New.
+	(bfd_make_section_anyway): Call bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags,
+	(bfd_make_section_with_flags): New.
+	(bfd_make_section): Call bfd_make_section_with_flags.
+
+	* elf-m10300.c (_bfd_mn10300_elf_create_got_section): Call
+	bfd_make_section_with_flags/bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags
+	instead of bfd_make_section/bfd_make_section and don't call
+	bfd_set_section_flags.
+	(mn10300_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	(_bfd_mn10300_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	* elf32-arm.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(bfd_elf32_arm_add_glue_sections_to_bfd): Likewise.
+	(elf32_arm_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-cris.c (cris_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-frv.c (elf32_frv_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
+	(_frv_create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(elf32_frvfdpic_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	* elf32-hppa.c (elf32_hppa_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(elf32_hppa_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-i370.c (i370_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(i370_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-i386.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(elf_i386_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-m32r.c (m32r_elf_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
+	(create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(m32r_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(m32r_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-m68k.c (elf_m68k_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-ppc.c (ppc_elf_create_got): Likewise.
+	(ppc_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(ppc_elf_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
+	(ppc_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-s390.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(elf_s390_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-sh.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(sh_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(sh_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-vax.c (elf_vax_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-xstormy16.c (xstormy16_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf32-xtensa.c (elf_xtensa_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(add_extra_plt_sections): Likewise.
+	* elf64-alpha.c (elf64_alpha_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
+	(elf64_alpha_create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(elf64_alpha_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(elf64_alpha_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf64-hppa.c (get_reloc_section): Likewise.
+	(get_opd): Likewise.
+	(get_plt): Likewise.
+	(get_dlt): Likewise.
+	(get_stub): Likewise.
+	(elf64_hppa_create_dynamic_sectionso): Likewise.
+	* elf64-mmix.c (mmix_elf_check_common_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf64-ppc.c (create_linkage_sections): Likewise.
+	(ppc64_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf64-s390.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(elf_s390_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elf64-sh64.c (sh_elf64_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	(sh64_elf64_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	* elf64-x86-64.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(elf64_x86_64_check_relocs): Likewise.
+	* elflink.c (_bfd_elf_create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(_bfd_elf_link_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(elf_link_add_object_symbols): Likewise.
+	* elfxx-ia64.c (elfNN_ia64_add_symbol_hook): Likewise.
+	(elfNN_ia64_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	(get_fptr): Likewise.
+	(get_pltoff): Likewise.
+	(get_reloc_section): Likewise.
+	(elfNN_ia64_object_p): Likewise.
+	* elfxx-mips.c (mips_elf_rel_dyn_section): Likewise.
+	(mips_elf_create_compact_rel_section): Likewise.
+	(mips_elf_create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(_bfd_mips_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
+	* elfxx-sparc.c (create_got_section): Likewise.
+	(_bfd_sparc_elf_check_relocs): Likewise.
+
+	* elf.c (_bfd_elf_new_section_hook): Call _bfd_elf_get_sec_type_attr
+	on linker created sections.
+
+2005-05-05  H.J. Lu  <hongjiu.lu@intel.com>
+
 	PR 882
 	* elflink.c (_bfd_elf_link_assign_sym_version): Allow version
 	script on executable.
diff --git a/bfd/elf-m10300.c b/bfd/elf-m10300.c
index cfb22319795..c9a9848f467 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-m10300.c
+++ b/bfd/elf-m10300.c
@@ -576,9 +576,8 @@ _bfd_mn10300_elf_create_got_section (abfd, info)
   if (bed->plt_readonly)
     pltflags |= SEC_READONLY;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".plt", pltflags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, pltflags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->plt_alignment))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -601,17 +600,15 @@ _bfd_mn10300_elf_create_got_section (abfd, info)
 	return FALSE;
     }
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got", flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
     return FALSE;
 
   if (bed->want_got_plt)
     {
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got.plt");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got.plt", flags);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	return FALSE;
     }
@@ -778,15 +775,15 @@ mn10300_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 	      srelgot = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, ".rela.got");
 	      if (srelgot == NULL)
 		{
-		  srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+		  srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							 ".rela.got",
+							 (SEC_ALLOC
+							  | SEC_LOAD
+							  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+							  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+							  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+							  | SEC_READONLY));
 		  if (srelgot == NULL
-		      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, srelgot,
-						  (SEC_ALLOC
-						   | SEC_LOAD
-						   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						   | SEC_READONLY))
 		      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, srelgot, 2))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
@@ -910,13 +907,14 @@ mn10300_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
@@ -3925,10 +3923,11 @@ _bfd_mn10300_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
   flags = (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY
 	   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-			bed->default_use_rela_p ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+				   (bed->default_use_rela_p
+				    ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt"),
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -3953,9 +3952,9 @@ _bfd_mn10300_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
 	strcpy (relname, ".rela");
 	strcat (relname, secname);
 
-	s = bfd_make_section (abfd, relname);
+	s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, relname,
+					 flags | SEC_READONLY);
 	if (s == NULL
-	    || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	    || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	  return FALSE;
       }
@@ -3969,9 +3968,9 @@ _bfd_mn10300_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
 	 image and use a R_*_COPY reloc to tell the dynamic linker to
 	 initialize them at run time.  The linker script puts the .dynbss
 	 section into the .bss section of the final image.  */
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynbss");
-      if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, SEC_ALLOC))
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynbss",
+				       SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
+      if (s == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
 
       /* The .rel[a].bss section holds copy relocs.  This section is not
@@ -3987,11 +3986,11 @@ _bfd_mn10300_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
 	 copy relocs.  */
       if (! info->shared)
 	{
-	  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-				(bed->default_use_rela_p
-				 ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"));
+	  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+					   (bed->default_use_rela_p
+					    ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"),
+					   flags | SEC_READONLY);
 	  if (s == NULL
-	      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index 5477ba633a1..6ba2cb86f49 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -2245,10 +2245,11 @@ _bfd_elf_new_section_hook (bfd *abfd, asection *sec)
       sec->used_by_bfd = sdata;
     }
 
-  /* When we read a file, we don't need section type and flags.
-     They will be overridden in _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr
-     anyway.  */
-  if (abfd->direction != read_direction)
+  /* When we read a file, we don't need section type and flags unless
+     it is a linker created section.  They will be overridden in
+     _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr anyway.  */
+  if (abfd->direction != read_direction
+      || (sec->flags & SEC_LINKER_CREATED) != 0)
     {
       ssect = _bfd_elf_get_sec_type_attr (abfd, sec->name);
       if (ssect != NULL)
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-arm.c b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
index 624d995af47..7fdcfb05752 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-arm.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
@@ -1414,12 +1414,13 @@ create_got_section (bfd *dynobj, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (!htab->sgot || !htab->sgotplt)
     abort ();
 
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rel.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rel.got",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+						| SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						| SEC_READONLY));
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->srelgot,
-				  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				   | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->srelgot, 2))
     return FALSE;
   return TRUE;
@@ -1897,10 +1898,11 @@ bfd_elf32_arm_add_glue_sections_to_bfd (bfd *abfd,
 	 of this section.  */
       flags = SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_CODE | SEC_READONLY;
 
-      sec = bfd_make_section (abfd, ARM2THUMB_GLUE_SECTION_NAME);
+      sec = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+					 ARM2THUMB_GLUE_SECTION_NAME,
+					 flags);
 
       if (sec == NULL
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, sec, flags)
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, sec, 2))
 	return FALSE;
 
@@ -1916,10 +1918,11 @@ bfd_elf32_arm_add_glue_sections_to_bfd (bfd *abfd,
       flags = SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY
 	| SEC_CODE | SEC_READONLY;
 
-      sec = bfd_make_section (abfd, THUMB2ARM_GLUE_SECTION_NAME);
+      sec = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+					 THUMB2ARM_GLUE_SECTION_NAME,
+					 flags);
 
       if (sec == NULL
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, sec, flags)
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, sec, 2))
 	return FALSE;
 
@@ -4690,7 +4693,6 @@ elf32_arm_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		      {
 		        flagword flags;
 
-		        sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		        flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			         | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		        if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0
@@ -4698,8 +4700,10 @@ elf32_arm_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 			       relocations mapped.  */
 			    && !htab->symbian_p)
 			  flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		        sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							      name,
+							      flags);
 		        if (sreloc == NULL
-			    || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			    || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 			  return FALSE;
 		      }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-cris.c b/bfd/elf32-cris.c
index 6b21de75009..368e4c752d6 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-cris.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-cris.c
@@ -2542,15 +2542,15 @@ cris_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 	      srelgot = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, ".rela.got");
 	      if (srelgot == NULL)
 		{
-		  srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+		  srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							 ".rela.got",
+							 (SEC_ALLOC
+							  | SEC_LOAD
+							  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+							  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+							  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+							  | SEC_READONLY));
 		  if (srelgot == NULL
-		      || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, srelgot,
-						 (SEC_ALLOC
-						  | SEC_LOAD
-						  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						  | SEC_READONLY))
 		      || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, srelgot, 2))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
@@ -2787,15 +2787,14 @@ cris_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 	      sreloc = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, name);
 	      if (sreloc == NULL)
 		{
-		  sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
+		  sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, name,
+							(SEC_ALLOC
+							 | SEC_LOAD
+							 | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+							 | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+							 | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+							 | SEC_READONLY));
 		  if (sreloc == NULL
-		      || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc,
-						 (SEC_ALLOC
-						  | SEC_LOAD
-						  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						  | SEC_READONLY))
 		      || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-frv.c b/bfd/elf32-frv.c
index e1fbd448e33..49768adfa16 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-frv.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-frv.c
@@ -4213,11 +4213,11 @@ elf32_frv_add_symbol_hook (abfd, info, sym, namep, flagsp, secp, valp)
 
       if (scomm == NULL)
 	{
-	  scomm = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".scommon");
-	  if (scomm == NULL
-	      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, scomm, (SEC_ALLOC
-						       | SEC_IS_COMMON
-						       | SEC_LINKER_CREATED)))
+	  scomm = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".scommon",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC
+						| SEC_IS_COMMON
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
+	  if (scomm == NULL)
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
 
@@ -4282,17 +4282,15 @@ _frv_create_got_section (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
   pltflags = flags;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got", flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
     return FALSE;
 
   if (bed->want_got_plt)
     {
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got.plt");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got.plt", flags);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	return FALSE;
     }
@@ -4337,18 +4335,18 @@ _frv_create_got_section (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
       if (! frvfdpic_relocs_info (info))
 	return FALSE;
 
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rel.got");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rel.got",
+				       (flags | SEC_READONLY));
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (flags | SEC_READONLY))
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 2))
 	return FALSE;
 
       frvfdpic_gotrel_section (info) = s;
 
       /* Machine-specific.  */
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rofixup");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rofixup",
+				       (flags | SEC_READONLY));
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (flags | SEC_READONLY))
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 2))
 	return FALSE;
 
@@ -4395,9 +4393,8 @@ _frv_create_got_section (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (bed->plt_readonly)
     pltflags |= SEC_READONLY;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".plt", pltflags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, pltflags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->plt_alignment))
     return FALSE;
   /* FRV-specific: remember it.  */
@@ -4425,9 +4422,9 @@ _frv_create_got_section (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
     }
 
   /* FRV-specific: we want rel relocations for the plt.  */
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rel.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rel.plt",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
     return FALSE;
   /* FRV-specific: remember it.  */
@@ -4473,9 +4470,9 @@ elf32_frvfdpic_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	 image and use a R_*_COPY reloc to tell the dynamic linker to
 	 initialize them at run time.  The linker script puts the .dynbss
 	 section into the .bss section of the final image.  */
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynbss");
-      if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynbss",
+				       SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
+      if (s == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
 
       /* The .rel[a].bss section holds copy relocs.  This section is not
@@ -4491,11 +4488,11 @@ elf32_frvfdpic_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
      copy relocs.  */
       if (! info->shared)
 	{
-	  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-				(bed->default_use_rela_p
-				 ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"));
+	  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+					   (bed->default_use_rela_p
+					    ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"),
+					   flags | SEC_READONLY);
 	  if (s == NULL
-	      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-hppa.c b/bfd/elf32-hppa.c
index d79cc49df47..b2f131c6c04 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-hppa.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-hppa.c
@@ -952,15 +952,14 @@ elf32_hppa_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   htab->srelplt = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".rela.plt");
 
   htab->sgot = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".got");
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rela.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.got",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC
+						| SEC_LOAD
+						| SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						| SEC_READONLY));
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, htab->srelgot,
-				  (SEC_ALLOC
-				   | SEC_LOAD
-				   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, htab->srelgot, 2))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -1388,13 +1387,14 @@ elf32_hppa_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-i370.c b/bfd/elf32-i370.c
index 5a72d74913a..3fba82b333d 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-i370.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-i370.c
@@ -449,24 +449,24 @@ i370_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
   flags = (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY
 	   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynsbss");
-  if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, SEC_ALLOC))
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynsbss",
+				   SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
+  if (s == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
   if (! info->shared)
     {
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rela.sbss");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.sbss",
+				       flags | SEC_READONLY);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 2))
 	return FALSE;
     }
 
    /* xxx beats me, seem to need a rela.text ...  */
-   s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rela.text");
+   s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.text",
+				    flags | SEC_READONLY);
    if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 2))
     return FALSE;
   return TRUE;
@@ -930,13 +930,13 @@ i370_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		{
 		  flagword flags;
 
-		  sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		  flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			   | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		  if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 		    flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		  sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, name,
+							flags);
 		  if (sreloc == NULL
-		      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 		      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-i386.c b/bfd/elf32-i386.c
index 5cfe6f717b5..934e6d90fbd 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-i386.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-i386.c
@@ -689,12 +689,13 @@ create_got_section (bfd *dynobj, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (!htab->sgot || !htab->sgotplt)
     abort ();
 
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rel.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rel.got",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+						| SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						| SEC_READONLY));
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->srelgot,
-				  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				   | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->srelgot, 2))
     return FALSE;
   return TRUE;
@@ -1098,13 +1099,14 @@ elf_i386_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-m32r.c b/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
index 67e63dcbe64..55c36f2fc8f 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
@@ -1461,10 +1461,10 @@ m32r_elf_add_symbol_hook (abfd, info, sym, namep, flagsp, secp, valp)
 	  flagword flags = (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
 			    | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 
-	  s = bfd_make_section_anyway (abfd, ".sdata");
+	  s = bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (abfd, ".sdata",
+						  flags);
 	  if (s == NULL)
 	    return FALSE;
-	  bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags);
 	  bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 2);
 	}
 
@@ -1719,15 +1719,14 @@ create_got_section (dynobj, info)
   if (! htab->sgot || ! htab->sgotplt)
     abort ();
 
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rela.got",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC
+						| SEC_LOAD
+						| SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						| SEC_READONLY));
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->srelgot,
-                                  (SEC_ALLOC
-                                   | SEC_LOAD
-                                   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-                                   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-                                   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-                                   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->srelgot, 2))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -1762,10 +1761,9 @@ m32r_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
   if (bed->plt_readonly)
     pltflags |= SEC_READONLY;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".plt", pltflags);
   htab->splt = s;
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, pltflags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->plt_alignment))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -1789,11 +1787,11 @@ m32r_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
         return FALSE;
     }
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-                        bed->default_use_rela_p ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+				   bed->default_use_rela_p ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   htab->srelplt = s;
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -1819,9 +1817,9 @@ m32r_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
         strcat (relname, secname);
         if (bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, secname))
           continue;
-        s = bfd_make_section (abfd, relname);
+        s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, relname,
+					 flags | SEC_READONLY);
         if (s == NULL
-            || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
             || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
           return FALSE;
       }
@@ -1835,10 +1833,10 @@ m32r_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
          image and use a R_*_COPY reloc to tell the dynamic linker to
          initialize them at run time.  The linker script puts the .dynbss
          section into the .bss section of the final image.  */
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynbss");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynbss",
+				       SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
       htab->sdynbss = s;
-      if (s == NULL
-          || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, SEC_ALLOC))
+      if (s == NULL)
         return FALSE;
       /* The .rel[a].bss section holds copy relocs.  This section is not
          normally needed.  We need to create it here, though, so that the
@@ -1853,12 +1851,12 @@ m32r_elf_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
          copy relocs.  */
       if (! info->shared)
         {
-          s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-                                (bed->default_use_rela_p
-                                 ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"));
+          s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+					   (bed->default_use_rela_p
+					    ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"),
+					   flags | SEC_READONLY);
           htab->srelbss = s;
           if (s == NULL
-              || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
               || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
             return FALSE;
         }
@@ -4108,13 +4106,14 @@ m32r_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
                     {
                       flagword flags;
 
-                      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
                       flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
                                | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
                       if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
                         flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+                      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
                       if (sreloc == NULL
-                          || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
                           || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
                         return FALSE;
                     }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-m68k.c b/bfd/elf32-m68k.c
index 2f9dad6658c..2c6e29b883b 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-m68k.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-m68k.c
@@ -517,15 +517,15 @@ elf_m68k_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 	      srelgot = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, ".rela.got");
 	      if (srelgot == NULL)
 		{
-		  srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+		  srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							 ".rela.got",
+							 (SEC_ALLOC
+							  | SEC_LOAD
+							  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+							  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+							  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+							  | SEC_READONLY));
 		  if (srelgot == NULL
-		      || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, srelgot,
-						 (SEC_ALLOC
-						  | SEC_LOAD
-						  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						  | SEC_READONLY))
 		      || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, srelgot, 2))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
@@ -691,15 +691,15 @@ elf_m68k_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		  sreloc = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, name);
 		  if (sreloc == NULL)
 		    {
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    (SEC_ALLOC
+							     | SEC_LOAD
+							     | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+							     | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+							     | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+							     | SEC_READONLY));
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc,
-						     (SEC_ALLOC
-						      | SEC_LOAD
-						      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						      | SEC_READONLY))
 			  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-ppc.c b/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
index 832bb455e23..6287921fa0d 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
@@ -2220,12 +2220,13 @@ ppc_elf_create_got (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (!bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags))
     return FALSE;
 
-  htab->relgot = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rela.got");
+  htab->relgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.got",
+					      SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+					      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+					      | SEC_READONLY);
   if (!htab->relgot
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, htab->relgot,
-				  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				   | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, htab->relgot, 2))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -2256,17 +2257,19 @@ ppc_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 
   htab->dynbss = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".dynbss");
-  htab->dynsbss = s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynsbss");
-  if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
+  htab->dynsbss = s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynsbss",
+						   SEC_ALLOC
+						   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
+  if (s == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
   if (! info->shared)
     {
       htab->relbss = bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".rela.bss");
-      htab->relsbss = s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rela.sbss");
+      htab->relsbss = s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+						       ".rela.sbss",
+						       flags | SEC_READONLY);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 2))
 	return FALSE;
     }
@@ -2384,9 +2387,10 @@ ppc_elf_add_symbol_hook (bfd *abfd,
 	  if (!htab->elf.dynobj)
 	    htab->elf.dynobj = abfd;
 
-	  htab->sbss = bfd_make_section_anyway (htab->elf.dynobj, ".sbss");
-	  if (htab->sbss == NULL
-	      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (htab->elf.dynobj, htab->sbss, flags))
+	  htab->sbss = bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (htab->elf.dynobj,
+							   ".sbss",
+							   flags);
+	  if (htab->sbss == NULL)
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
 
@@ -2415,9 +2419,10 @@ ppc_elf_create_linker_section (bfd *abfd,
   if (!htab->elf.dynobj)
     htab->elf.dynobj = abfd;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section_anyway (htab->elf.dynobj, lsect->name);
+  s = bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (htab->elf.dynobj,
+					  lsect->name,
+					  flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (htab->elf.dynobj, s, flags)
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (htab->elf.dynobj, s, 2))
     return FALSE;
   lsect->section = s;
@@ -2947,13 +2952,13 @@ ppc_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (htab->elf.dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
 			       | SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD);
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (htab->elf.dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (htab->elf.dynobj,
-						      sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (htab->elf.dynobj,
 							  sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-s390.c b/bfd/elf32-s390.c
index 2276b316bfe..62ed07a1135 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-s390.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-s390.c
@@ -803,12 +803,13 @@ create_got_section (dynobj, info)
   if (!htab->sgot || !htab->sgotplt)
     abort ();
 
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rela.got",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+						| SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						| SEC_READONLY));
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->srelgot,
-				  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				   | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->srelgot, 2))
     return FALSE;
   return TRUE;
@@ -1281,13 +1282,14 @@ elf_s390_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-sh.c b/bfd/elf32-sh.c
index a811fe3adff..9b57f35938a 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-sh.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-sh.c
@@ -3649,15 +3649,13 @@ create_got_section (bfd *dynobj, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (! htab->sgot || ! htab->sgotplt)
     abort ();
 
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rela.got",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+						| SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						| SEC_READONLY));
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->srelgot,
-				  (SEC_ALLOC
-				   | SEC_LOAD
-				   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->srelgot, 2))
     return FALSE;
   return TRUE;
@@ -3706,10 +3704,9 @@ sh_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (bed->plt_readonly)
     pltflags |= SEC_READONLY;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".plt", pltflags);
   htab->splt = s;
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, pltflags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->plt_alignment))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -3735,11 +3732,11 @@ sh_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	return FALSE;
     }
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-			bed->default_use_rela_p ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+				   bed->default_use_rela_p ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   htab->srelplt = s;
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -3765,9 +3762,9 @@ sh_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	strcat (relname, secname);
 	if (bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, secname))
 	  continue;
-	s = bfd_make_section (abfd, relname);
+	s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, relname,
+					 flags | SEC_READONLY);
 	if (s == NULL
-	    || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	    || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	  return FALSE;
       }
@@ -3781,10 +3778,10 @@ sh_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	 image and use a R_*_COPY reloc to tell the dynamic linker to
 	 initialize them at run time.  The linker script puts the .dynbss
 	 section into the .bss section of the final image.  */
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynbss");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynbss",
+				       SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
       htab->sdynbss = s;
-      if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, SEC_ALLOC))
+      if (s == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
 
       /* The .rel[a].bss section holds copy relocs.  This section is not
@@ -3800,12 +3797,12 @@ sh_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	 copy relocs.  */
       if (! info->shared)
 	{
-	  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-				(bed->default_use_rela_p
-				 ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"));
+	  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+					   (bed->default_use_rela_p
+					    ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"),
+					   flags | SEC_READONLY);
 	  htab->srelbss = s;
 	  if (s == NULL
-	      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
@@ -6531,14 +6528,14 @@ sh_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info, asection *sec,
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (htab->root.dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (htab->root.dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (htab->root.dynobj,
-						      sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (htab->root.dynobj,
 							  sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-vax.c b/bfd/elf32-vax.c
index 5a554fd5cef..0693eafca07 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-vax.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-vax.c
@@ -631,15 +631,15 @@ elf_vax_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 	      srelgot = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, ".rela.got");
 	      if (srelgot == NULL)
 		{
-		  srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+		  srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							 ".rela.got",
+							 (SEC_ALLOC
+							  | SEC_LOAD
+							  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+							  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+							  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+							  | SEC_READONLY));
 		  if (srelgot == NULL
-		      || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, srelgot,
-						 (SEC_ALLOC
-						  | SEC_LOAD
-						  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						  | SEC_READONLY))
 		      || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, srelgot, 2))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
@@ -760,15 +760,15 @@ elf_vax_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		  sreloc = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, name);
 		  if (sreloc == NULL)
 		    {
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    (SEC_ALLOC
+							     | SEC_LOAD
+							     | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+							     | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+							     | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+							     | SEC_READONLY));
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc,
-						     (SEC_ALLOC
-						      | SEC_LOAD
-						      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						      | SEC_READONLY))
 			  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-xstormy16.c b/bfd/elf32-xstormy16.c
index 3a9f04731be..d8c4e116e75 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-xstormy16.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-xstormy16.c
@@ -470,16 +470,16 @@ xstormy16_elf_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 	      splt = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, ".plt");
 	      if (splt == NULL)
 		{
-		  splt = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".plt");
+		  splt = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".plt",
+						      (SEC_ALLOC
+						       | SEC_LOAD
+						       | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						       | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						       | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						       | SEC_READONLY
+						       | SEC_CODE));
+
 		  if (splt == NULL
-		      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, splt,
-						  (SEC_ALLOC
-						   | SEC_LOAD
-						   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						   | SEC_READONLY
-						   | SEC_CODE))
 		      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, splt, 1))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c b/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
index 7b4a3f0761c..b6b2959c39f 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
@@ -1105,23 +1105,21 @@ elf_xtensa_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *dynobj, struct bfd_link_info *info)
     return FALSE;
 
   /* Create ".rela.got".  */
-  s = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rela.got", flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, s, flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, s, 2))
     return FALSE;
 
   /* Create ".got.loc" (literal tables for use by dynamic linker).  */
-  s = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".got.loc");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".got.loc", flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, s, flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, s, 2))
     return FALSE;
 
   /* Create ".xt.lit.plt" (literal table for ".got.plt*").  */
-  s = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".xt.lit.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".xt.lit.plt",
+				   noalloc_flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, s, noalloc_flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, s, 2))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -1151,17 +1149,16 @@ add_extra_plt_sections (bfd *dynobj, int count)
 
       sname = (char *) bfd_malloc (10);
       sprintf (sname, ".plt.%u", chunk);
-      s = bfd_make_section (dynobj, sname);
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, sname,
+				       flags | SEC_CODE);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, s, flags | SEC_CODE)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, s, 2))
 	return FALSE;
 
       sname = (char *) bfd_malloc (14);
       sprintf (sname, ".got.plt.%u", chunk);
-      s = bfd_make_section (dynobj, sname);
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, sname, flags);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, s, flags)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, s, 2))
 	return FALSE;
     }
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
index 9a01ae1d9f7..6b247348d99 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-alpha.c
@@ -2371,11 +2371,11 @@ elf64_alpha_add_symbol_hook (abfd, info, sym, namep, flagsp, secp, valp)
 
       if (scomm == NULL)
 	{
-	  scomm = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".scommon");
-	  if (scomm == NULL
-	      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, scomm, (SEC_ALLOC
-						       | SEC_IS_COMMON
-						       | SEC_LINKER_CREATED)))
+	  scomm = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".scommon",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC
+						| SEC_IS_COMMON
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
+	  if (scomm == NULL)
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
 
@@ -2403,12 +2403,11 @@ elf64_alpha_create_got_section(abfd, info)
       return TRUE;
     }
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got", (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+						  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 3))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -2430,13 +2429,13 @@ elf64_alpha_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
 
   /* We need to create .plt, .rela.plt, .got, and .rela.got sections.  */
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".plt",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+				    | SEC_CODE));
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-					    | SEC_CODE))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 3))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -2456,13 +2455,13 @@ elf64_alpha_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
       && ! bfd_elf_link_record_dynamic_symbol (info, h))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rela.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.plt",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+				    | SEC_READONLY));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-					   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 3))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -2472,13 +2471,13 @@ elf64_alpha_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
   if (!elf64_alpha_create_got_section (abfd, info))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section(abfd, ".rela.got");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.got",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+				    | SEC_READONLY));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-					   | SEC_READONLY))
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 3))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -3147,13 +3146,14 @@ elf64_alpha_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		{
 		  flagword flags;
 
-		  sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, rel_sec_name);
 		  flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY
 			   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED | SEC_READONLY);
 		  if (sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC)
 		    flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		  sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							rel_sec_name,
+							flags);
 		  if (sreloc == NULL
-		      || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 		      || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 3))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-hppa.c b/bfd/elf64-hppa.c
index d78442b18d7..1ca533b4e0d 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-hppa.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-hppa.c
@@ -532,15 +532,14 @@ get_reloc_section (abfd, hppa_info, sec)
   srel = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, srel_name);
   if (srel == NULL)
     {
-      srel = bfd_make_section (dynobj, srel_name);
+      srel = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, srel_name,
+					  (SEC_ALLOC
+					   | SEC_LOAD
+					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+					   | SEC_READONLY));
       if (srel == NULL
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, srel,
-				     (SEC_ALLOC
-				      | SEC_LOAD
-				      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				      | SEC_READONLY))
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, srel, 3))
 	return FALSE;
     }
@@ -1232,14 +1231,13 @@ get_opd (abfd, info, hppa_info)
       if (!dynobj)
 	hppa_info->root.dynobj = dynobj = abfd;
 
-      opd = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".opd");
+      opd = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".opd",
+					 (SEC_ALLOC
+					  | SEC_LOAD
+					  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
       if (!opd
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, opd,
-				     (SEC_ALLOC
-				      | SEC_LOAD
-				      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, opd, 3))
 	{
 	  BFD_ASSERT (0);
@@ -1270,14 +1268,13 @@ get_plt (abfd, info, hppa_info)
       if (!dynobj)
 	hppa_info->root.dynobj = dynobj = abfd;
 
-      plt = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".plt");
+      plt = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".plt",
+					 (SEC_ALLOC
+					  | SEC_LOAD
+					  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
       if (!plt
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, plt,
-				     (SEC_ALLOC
-				      | SEC_LOAD
-				      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, plt, 3))
 	{
 	  BFD_ASSERT (0);
@@ -1308,14 +1305,13 @@ get_dlt (abfd, info, hppa_info)
       if (!dynobj)
 	hppa_info->root.dynobj = dynobj = abfd;
 
-      dlt = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".dlt");
+      dlt = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".dlt",
+					 (SEC_ALLOC
+					  | SEC_LOAD
+					  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
       if (!dlt
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, dlt,
-				     (SEC_ALLOC
-				      | SEC_LOAD
-				      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, dlt, 3))
 	{
 	  BFD_ASSERT (0);
@@ -1346,15 +1342,13 @@ get_stub (abfd, info, hppa_info)
       if (!dynobj)
 	hppa_info->root.dynobj = dynobj = abfd;
 
-      stub = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".stub");
+      stub = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".stub",
+					  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					   | SEC_READONLY
+					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
       if (!stub
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, stub,
-				     (SEC_ALLOC
-				      | SEC_LOAD
-				      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				      | SEC_READONLY
-				      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, stub, 3))
 	{
 	  BFD_ASSERT (0);
@@ -1424,46 +1418,46 @@ elf64_hppa_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
   if (! get_opd (abfd, info, elf64_hppa_hash_table (info)))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section(abfd, ".rela.dlt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.dlt",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_READONLY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_READONLY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 3))
     return FALSE;
   elf64_hppa_hash_table (info)->dlt_rel_sec = s;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section(abfd, ".rela.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.plt",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_READONLY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_READONLY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 3))
     return FALSE;
   elf64_hppa_hash_table (info)->plt_rel_sec = s;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section(abfd, ".rela.data");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.data",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_READONLY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_READONLY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 3))
     return FALSE;
   elf64_hppa_hash_table (info)->other_rel_sec = s;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section(abfd, ".rela.opd");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.opd",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_READONLY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_READONLY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 3))
     return FALSE;
   elf64_hppa_hash_table (info)->opd_rel_sec = s;
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-mmix.c b/bfd/elf64-mmix.c
index c37130c2e29..3c5336b7d28 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-mmix.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-mmix.c
@@ -1890,19 +1890,17 @@ mmix_elf_check_common_relocs  (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 	  if (allocated_gregs_section == NULL)
 	    {
 	      allocated_gregs_section
-		= bfd_make_section (bpo_greg_owner,
-				    MMIX_LD_ALLOCATED_REG_CONTENTS_SECTION_NAME);
+		= bfd_make_section_with_flags (bpo_greg_owner,
+					       MMIX_LD_ALLOCATED_REG_CONTENTS_SECTION_NAME,
+					       (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
 	      /* Setting both SEC_ALLOC and SEC_LOAD means the section is
 		 treated like any other section, and we'd get errors for
 		 address overlap with the text section.  Let's set none of
 		 those flags, as that is what currently happens for usual
 		 GREG allocations, and that works.  */
 	      if (allocated_gregs_section == NULL
-		  || !bfd_set_section_flags (bpo_greg_owner,
-					     allocated_gregs_section,
-					     (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
 		  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (bpo_greg_owner,
 						 allocated_gregs_section,
 						 3))
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-ppc.c b/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
index 4bb0d3b8039..0eaa7549216 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
@@ -3667,25 +3667,25 @@ create_linkage_sections (bfd *dynobj, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   /* Create .sfpr for code to save and restore fp regs.  */
   flags = (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_CODE | SEC_READONLY
 	   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
-  htab->sfpr = bfd_make_section_anyway (dynobj, ".sfpr");
+  htab->sfpr = bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (dynobj, ".sfpr",
+						   flags);
   if (htab->sfpr == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->sfpr, flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->sfpr, 2))
     return FALSE;
 
   /* Create .glink for lazy dynamic linking support.  */
-  htab->glink = bfd_make_section_anyway (dynobj, ".glink");
+  htab->glink = bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (dynobj, ".glink",
+						    flags);
   if (htab->glink == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->glink, flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->glink, 2))
     return FALSE;
 
   /* Create .branch_lt for plt_branch stubs.  */
   flags = (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
 	   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
-  htab->brlt = bfd_make_section_anyway (dynobj, ".branch_lt");
+  htab->brlt = bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (dynobj, ".branch_lt",
+						   flags);
   if (htab->brlt == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->brlt, flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->brlt, 3))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -3693,9 +3693,10 @@ create_linkage_sections (bfd *dynobj, struct bfd_link_info *info)
     {
       flags = (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_READONLY
 	       | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
-      htab->relbrlt = bfd_make_section_anyway (dynobj, ".rela.branch_lt");
+      htab->relbrlt = bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (dynobj,
+							  ".rela.branch_lt",
+							  flags);
       if (!htab->relbrlt
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->relbrlt, flags)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->relbrlt, 3))
 	return FALSE;
     }
@@ -3725,15 +3726,14 @@ create_got_section (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   flags = (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY
 	   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 
-  got = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got");
+  got = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got", flags);
   if (!got
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, got, flags)
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, got, 3))
     return FALSE;
 
-  relgot = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rela.got");
+  relgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.got",
+					flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (!relgot
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, relgot, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, relgot, 3))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -4686,12 +4686,13 @@ ppc64_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
 			       | SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD);
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 3))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-s390.c b/bfd/elf64-s390.c
index cc9a1a9a39f..9142d2ad761 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-s390.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-s390.c
@@ -756,12 +756,13 @@ create_got_section (dynobj, info)
   if (!htab->sgot || !htab->sgotplt)
     abort ();
 
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rela.got",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+						| SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						| SEC_READONLY));
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->srelgot,
-				  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				   | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->srelgot, 3))
     return FALSE;
   return TRUE;
@@ -1246,13 +1247,14 @@ elf_s390_check_relocs (abfd, info, sec, relocs)
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 3))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-sh64.c b/bfd/elf64-sh64.c
index 7de00c905e0..2b1278bba04 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-sh64.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-sh64.c
@@ -2530,15 +2530,15 @@ sh_elf64_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 	      srelgot = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, ".rela.got");
 	      if (srelgot == NULL)
 		{
-		  srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+		  srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							 ".rela.got",
+							 (SEC_ALLOC
+							  | SEC_LOAD
+							  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+							  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+							  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+							  | SEC_READONLY));
 		  if (srelgot == NULL
-		      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, srelgot,
-						  (SEC_ALLOC
-						   | SEC_LOAD
-						   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-						   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-						   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-						   | SEC_READONLY))
 		      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, srelgot, 2))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
@@ -2732,13 +2732,14 @@ sh_elf64_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 2))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
@@ -3211,9 +3212,8 @@ sh64_elf64_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (bed->plt_readonly)
     pltflags |= SEC_READONLY;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".plt", pltflags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, pltflags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->plt_alignment))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -3238,10 +3238,10 @@ sh64_elf64_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	return FALSE;
     }
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-			bed->default_use_rela_p ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+				   bed->default_use_rela_p ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -3264,9 +3264,9 @@ sh64_elf64_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	relname = (char *) bfd_malloc (strlen (secname) + 6);
 	strcpy (relname, ".rela");
 	strcat (relname, secname);
-	s = bfd_make_section (abfd, relname);
+	s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, relname,
+					 flags | SEC_READONLY);
 	if (s == NULL
-	    || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	    || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	  return FALSE;
       }
@@ -3280,9 +3280,9 @@ sh64_elf64_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	 image and use a R_*_COPY reloc to tell the dynamic linker to
 	 initialize them at run time.  The linker script puts the .dynbss
 	 section into the .bss section of the final image.  */
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynbss");
-      if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, SEC_ALLOC))
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynbss",
+				       SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
+      if (s == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
 
       /* The .rel[a].bss section holds copy relocs.  This section is not
@@ -3298,11 +3298,11 @@ sh64_elf64_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	 copy relocs.  */
       if (! info->shared)
 	{
-	  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-				(bed->default_use_rela_p
-				 ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"));
+	  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+					   (bed->default_use_rela_p
+					    ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"),
+					   flags | SEC_READONLY);
 	  if (s == NULL
-	      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c b/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
index 58148bb0639..a1c2ea8ba98 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-x86-64.c
@@ -459,12 +459,13 @@ create_got_section (bfd *dynobj, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (!htab->sgot || !htab->sgotplt)
     abort ();
 
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rela.got",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+						| SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						| SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						| SEC_READONLY));
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->srelgot,
-				  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				   | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				   | SEC_READONLY))
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->srelgot, 3))
     return FALSE;
   return TRUE;
@@ -893,13 +894,14 @@ elf64_x86_64_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info, asection *sec,
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc, 3))
 			return FALSE;
 		    }
diff --git a/bfd/elflink.c b/bfd/elflink.c
index 5a65d23f193..4f91c5326cb 100644
--- a/bfd/elflink.c
+++ b/bfd/elflink.c
@@ -59,17 +59,15 @@ _bfd_elf_create_got_section (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 
   flags = bed->dynamic_sec_flags;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got", flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
     return FALSE;
 
   if (bed->want_got_plt)
     {
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got.plt");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got.plt", flags);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, ptralign))
 	return FALSE;
     }
@@ -156,17 +154,17 @@ _bfd_elf_link_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
      shared library does not.  */
   if (info->executable)
     {
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".interp");
-      if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY))
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".interp",
+				       flags | SEC_READONLY);
+      if (s == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
     }
 
   if (! info->traditional_format)
     {
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".eh_frame_hdr");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".eh_frame_hdr",
+				       flags | SEC_READONLY);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 2))
 	return FALSE;
       elf_hash_table (info)->eh_info.hdr_sec = s;
@@ -174,38 +172,37 @@ _bfd_elf_link_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 
   /* Create sections to hold version informations.  These are removed
      if they are not needed.  */
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".gnu.version_d");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".gnu.version_d",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".gnu.version");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".gnu.version",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 1))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".gnu.version_r");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".gnu.version_r",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynsym");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynsym",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynstr");
-  if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY))
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynstr",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
+  if (s == NULL)
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynamic");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynamic", flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -238,9 +235,9 @@ _bfd_elf_link_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
       && ! bfd_elf_link_record_dynamic_symbol (info, h))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".hash");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".hash",
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
     return FALSE;
   elf_section_data (s)->this_hdr.sh_entsize = bed->s->sizeof_hash_entry;
@@ -280,9 +277,8 @@ _bfd_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (bed->plt_readonly)
     pltflags |= SEC_READONLY;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".plt", pltflags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, pltflags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->plt_alignment))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -306,10 +302,11 @@ _bfd_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	return FALSE;
     }
 
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-			bed->default_use_rela_p ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+				   (bed->default_use_rela_p
+				    ? ".rela.plt" : ".rel.plt"),
+				   flags | SEC_READONLY);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -324,9 +321,10 @@ _bfd_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	 image and use a R_*_COPY reloc to tell the dynamic linker to
 	 initialize them at run time.  The linker script puts the .dynbss
 	 section into the .bss section of the final image.  */
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".dynbss");
-      if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".dynbss",
+				       (SEC_ALLOC
+					| SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
+      if (s == NULL)
 	return FALSE;
 
       /* The .rel[a].bss section holds copy relocs.  This section is not
@@ -342,11 +340,11 @@ _bfd_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	 copy relocs.  */
       if (! info->shared)
 	{
-	  s = bfd_make_section (abfd,
-				(bed->default_use_rela_p
-				 ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"));
+	  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+					   (bed->default_use_rela_p
+					    ? ".rela.bss" : ".rel.bss"),
+					   flags | SEC_READONLY);
 	  if (s == NULL
-	      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_READONLY)
 	      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, bed->s->log_file_align))
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
@@ -3626,12 +3624,12 @@ elf_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 
 	  if (tcomm == NULL)
 	    {
-	      tcomm = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".tcommon");
-	      if (tcomm == NULL
-		  || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, tcomm, (SEC_ALLOC
-							   | SEC_IS_COMMON
-							   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-							   | SEC_THREAD_LOCAL)))
+	      tcomm = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".tcommon",
+						   (SEC_ALLOC
+						    | SEC_IS_COMMON
+						    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						    | SEC_THREAD_LOCAL));
+	      if (tcomm == NULL)
 		goto error_free_vers;
 	    }
 	  sec = tcomm;
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-ia64.c b/bfd/elfxx-ia64.c
index dc464a81a9c..ca6e54d84ed 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-ia64.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-ia64.c
@@ -1436,11 +1436,11 @@ elfNN_ia64_add_symbol_hook (abfd, info, sym, namep, flagsp, secp, valp)
 
       if (scomm == NULL)
 	{
-	  scomm = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".scommon");
-	  if (scomm == NULL
-	      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, scomm, (SEC_ALLOC
-						       | SEC_IS_COMMON
-						       | SEC_LINKER_CREATED)))
+	  scomm = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".scommon",
+					       (SEC_ALLOC
+						| SEC_IS_COMMON
+						| SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
+	  if (scomm == NULL)
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
 
@@ -1874,24 +1874,24 @@ elfNN_ia64_create_dynamic_sections (abfd, info)
   if (!get_pltoff (abfd, info, ia64_info))
     return FALSE;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section(abfd, ".rela.IA_64.pltoff");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.IA_64.pltoff",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+				    | SEC_READONLY));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-					   | SEC_READONLY))
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, LOG_SECTION_ALIGN))
     return FALSE;
   ia64_info->rel_pltoff_sec = s;
 
-  s = bfd_make_section(abfd, ".rela.got");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rela.got",
+				   (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+				    | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+				    | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+				    | SEC_READONLY));
   if (s == NULL
-      || !bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-					   | SEC_READONLY))
       || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, LOG_SECTION_ALIGN))
     return FALSE;
   ia64_info->rel_got_sec = s;
@@ -2038,15 +2038,14 @@ get_fptr (abfd, info, ia64_info)
       if (!dynobj)
 	ia64_info->root.dynobj = dynobj = abfd;
 
-      fptr = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".opd");
+      fptr = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".opd",
+					  (SEC_ALLOC
+					   | SEC_LOAD
+					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					   | (info->pie ? 0 : SEC_READONLY)
+					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
       if (!fptr
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, fptr,
-				     (SEC_ALLOC
-				      | SEC_LOAD
-				      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				      | (info->pie ? 0 : SEC_READONLY)
-				      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, fptr, 4))
 	{
 	  BFD_ASSERT (0);
@@ -2058,14 +2057,13 @@ get_fptr (abfd, info, ia64_info)
       if (info->pie)
 	{
 	  asection *fptr_rel;
-	  fptr_rel = bfd_make_section(dynobj, ".rela.opd");
+	  fptr_rel = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rela.opd",
+						  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+						   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+						   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+						   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+						   | SEC_READONLY));
 	  if (fptr_rel == NULL
-	      || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, fptr_rel,
-					 (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
-					  | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-					  | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-					  | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-					  | SEC_READONLY))
 	      || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, fptr_rel,
 					     LOG_SECTION_ALIGN))
 	    {
@@ -2096,15 +2094,15 @@ get_pltoff (abfd, info, ia64_info)
       if (!dynobj)
 	ia64_info->root.dynobj = dynobj = abfd;
 
-      pltoff = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ELF_STRING_ia64_pltoff);
+      pltoff = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+					    ELF_STRING_ia64_pltoff,
+					    (SEC_ALLOC
+					     | SEC_LOAD
+					     | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					     | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					     | SEC_SMALL_DATA
+					     | SEC_LINKER_CREATED));
       if (!pltoff
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, pltoff,
-				     (SEC_ALLOC
-				      | SEC_LOAD
-				      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				      | SEC_SMALL_DATA
-				      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED))
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, pltoff, 4))
 	{
 	  BFD_ASSERT (0);
@@ -2148,15 +2146,13 @@ get_reloc_section (abfd, ia64_info, sec, create)
   srel = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, srel_name);
   if (srel == NULL && create)
     {
-      srel = bfd_make_section (dynobj, srel_name);
+      srel = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, srel_name,
+					  (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD
+					   | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					   | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					   | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+					   | SEC_READONLY));
       if (srel == NULL
-	  || !bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, srel,
-				     (SEC_ALLOC
-				      | SEC_LOAD
-				      | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				      | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				      | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				      | SEC_READONLY))
 	  || !bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, srel,
 					 LOG_SECTION_ALIGN))
 	return NULL;
@@ -4965,9 +4961,9 @@ elfNN_ia64_object_p (bfd *abfd)
 
 	  /* We need to create a fake group section for it and its
 	     unwind sections.  */
-	  group = bfd_make_section_anyway (abfd, name);
-	  if (group == NULL
-	      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, group, flags))
+	  group = bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (abfd, name,
+						      flags);
+	  if (group == NULL)
 	    return FALSE;
 
 	  /* Move the fake group section to the beginning.  */
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-mips.c b/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
index 259f81aedcd..2868ba9a066 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
@@ -1908,15 +1908,14 @@ mips_elf_rel_dyn_section (bfd *dynobj, bfd_boolean create_p)
   sreloc = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, dname);
   if (sreloc == NULL && create_p)
     {
-      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, dname);
+      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, dname,
+					    (SEC_ALLOC
+					     | SEC_LOAD
+					     | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					     | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					     | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+					     | SEC_READONLY));
       if (sreloc == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc,
-				      (SEC_ALLOC
-				       | SEC_LOAD
-				       | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-				       | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-				       | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-				       | SEC_READONLY))
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc,
 					  MIPS_ELF_LOG_FILE_ALIGN (dynobj)))
 	return NULL;
@@ -3512,9 +3511,8 @@ mips_elf_create_compact_rel_section
       flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
 	       | SEC_READONLY);
 
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".compact_rel");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".compact_rel", flags);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s,
 					  MIPS_ELF_LOG_FILE_ALIGN (abfd)))
 	return FALSE;
@@ -3555,9 +3553,8 @@ mips_elf_create_got_section (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 
   /* We have to use an alignment of 2**4 here because this is hardcoded
      in the function stub generation and in the linker script.  */
-  s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".got");
+  s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".got", flags);
   if (s == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s, 4))
     return FALSE;
 
@@ -5588,9 +5585,10 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   if (bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd,
 			       MIPS_ELF_STUB_SECTION_NAME (abfd)) == NULL)
     {
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, MIPS_ELF_STUB_SECTION_NAME (abfd));
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+				       MIPS_ELF_STUB_SECTION_NAME (abfd),
+				       flags | SEC_CODE);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags | SEC_CODE)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s,
 					  MIPS_ELF_LOG_FILE_ALIGN (abfd)))
 	return FALSE;
@@ -5600,9 +5598,9 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_create_dynamic_sections (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
       && !info->shared
       && bfd_get_section_by_name (abfd, ".rld_map") == NULL)
     {
-      s = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rld_map");
+      s = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, ".rld_map",
+				       flags &~ (flagword) SEC_READONLY);
       if (s == NULL
-	  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, s, flags &~ (flagword) SEC_READONLY)
 	  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, s,
 					  MIPS_ELF_LOG_FILE_ALIGN (abfd)))
 	return FALSE;
@@ -9213,9 +9211,10 @@ _bfd_mips_elf_final_link (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 		  flagword flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_IN_MEMORY
 				    | SEC_LINKER_CREATED | SEC_READONLY);
 
-		  rtproc_sec = bfd_make_section (abfd, ".rtproc");
+		  rtproc_sec = bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd,
+							    ".rtproc",
+							    flags);
 		  if (rtproc_sec == NULL
-		      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (abfd, rtproc_sec, flags)
 		      || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (abfd, rtproc_sec, 4))
 		    return FALSE;
 		}
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-sparc.c b/bfd/elfxx-sparc.c
index 86a42ad596d..8f6ff7db65d 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-sparc.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-sparc.c
@@ -829,14 +829,14 @@ create_got_section (bfd *dynobj, struct bfd_link_info *info)
   htab->sgot = bfd_get_section_by_name (dynobj, ".got");
   BFD_ASSERT (htab->sgot != NULL);
 
-  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section (dynobj, ".rela.got");
+  htab->srelgot = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj, ".rela.got",
+					       SEC_ALLOC
+					       | SEC_LOAD
+					       | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
+					       | SEC_IN_MEMORY
+					       | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
+					       | SEC_READONLY);
   if (htab->srelgot == NULL
-      || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, htab->srelgot, SEC_ALLOC
-							 | SEC_LOAD
-							 | SEC_HAS_CONTENTS
-							 | SEC_IN_MEMORY
-							 | SEC_LINKER_CREATED
-							 | SEC_READONLY)
       || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, htab->srelgot,
 				      htab->word_align_power))
     return FALSE;
@@ -1345,13 +1345,14 @@ _bfd_sparc_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		    {
 		      flagword flags;
 
-		      sreloc = bfd_make_section (dynobj, name);
 		      flags = (SEC_HAS_CONTENTS | SEC_READONLY
 			       | SEC_IN_MEMORY | SEC_LINKER_CREATED);
 		      if ((sec->flags & SEC_ALLOC) != 0)
 			flags |= SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD;
+		      sreloc = bfd_make_section_with_flags (dynobj,
+							    name,
+							    flags);
 		      if (sreloc == NULL
-			  || ! bfd_set_section_flags (dynobj, sreloc, flags)
 			  || ! bfd_set_section_alignment (dynobj, sreloc,
 							  htab->word_align_power))
 			return FALSE;
diff --git a/bfd/section.c b/bfd/section.c
index 2683cea6add..4e46a5db330 100644
--- a/bfd/section.c
+++ b/bfd/section.c
@@ -1004,15 +1004,17 @@ bfd_make_section_old_way (bfd *abfd, const char *name)
 
 /*
 FUNCTION
-	bfd_make_section_anyway
+	bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags
 
 SYNOPSIS
-	asection *bfd_make_section_anyway (bfd *abfd, const char *name);
+	asection *bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags
+	  (bfd *abfd, const char *name, flagword flags);
 
 DESCRIPTION
    Create a new empty section called @var{name} and attach it to the end of
    the chain of sections for @var{abfd}.  Create a new section even if there
-   is already a section with that name.
+   is already a section with that name.  Also set the attributes of the
+   new section to the value @var{flags}.
 
    Return <<NULL>> and set <<bfd_error>> on error; possible errors are:
    o <<bfd_error_invalid_operation>> - If output has already started for @var{abfd}.
@@ -1020,7 +1022,8 @@ DESCRIPTION
 */
 
 sec_ptr
-bfd_make_section_anyway (bfd *abfd, const char *name)
+bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (bfd *abfd, const char *name,
+				    flagword flags)
 {
   struct section_hash_entry *sh;
   asection *newsect;
@@ -1053,26 +1056,53 @@ bfd_make_section_anyway (bfd *abfd, const char *name)
       newsect = &new_sh->section;
     }
 
+  newsect->flags = flags;
   newsect->name = name;
   return bfd_section_init (abfd, newsect);
 }
 
 /*
 FUNCTION
-	bfd_make_section
+	bfd_make_section_anyway
 
 SYNOPSIS
-	asection *bfd_make_section (bfd *, const char *name);
+	asection *bfd_make_section_anyway (bfd *abfd, const char *name);
+
+DESCRIPTION
+   Create a new empty section called @var{name} and attach it to the end of
+   the chain of sections for @var{abfd}.  Create a new section even if there
+   is already a section with that name.
+
+   Return <<NULL>> and set <<bfd_error>> on error; possible errors are:
+   o <<bfd_error_invalid_operation>> - If output has already started for @var{abfd}.
+   o <<bfd_error_no_memory>> - If memory allocation fails.
+*/
+
+sec_ptr
+bfd_make_section_anyway (bfd *abfd, const char *name)
+{
+  return bfd_make_section_anyway_with_flags (abfd, name, 0);
+}
+
+/*
+FUNCTION
+	bfd_make_section_with_flags
+
+SYNOPSIS
+	asection *bfd_make_section_with_flags
+	  (bfd *, const char *name, flagword flags);
 
 DESCRIPTION
    Like <<bfd_make_section_anyway>>, but return <<NULL>> (without calling
    bfd_set_error ()) without changing the section chain if there is already a
-   section named @var{name}.  If there is an error, return <<NULL>> and set
+   section named @var{name}.  Also set the attributes of the new section to
+   the value @var{flags}.  If there is an error, return <<NULL>> and set
    <<bfd_error>>.
 */
 
 asection *
-bfd_make_section (bfd *abfd, const char *name)
+bfd_make_section_with_flags (bfd *abfd, const char *name,
+			     flagword flags)
 {
   struct section_hash_entry *sh;
   asection *newsect;
@@ -1101,11 +1131,32 @@ bfd_make_section (bfd *abfd, const char *name)
     }
 
   newsect->name = name;
+  newsect->flags = flags;
   return bfd_section_init (abfd, newsect);
 }
 
 /*
 FUNCTION
+	bfd_make_section
+
+SYNOPSIS
+	asection *bfd_make_section (bfd *, const char *name);
+
+DESCRIPTION
+   Like <<bfd_make_section_anyway>>, but return <<NULL>> (without calling
+   bfd_set_error ()) without changing the section chain if there is already a
+   section named @var{name}.  If there is an error, return <<NULL>> and set
+   <<bfd_error>>.
+*/
+
+asection *
+bfd_make_section (bfd *abfd, const char *name)
+{
+  return bfd_make_section_with_flags (abfd, name, 0);
+}
+
+/*
+FUNCTION
 	bfd_set_section_flags
 
 SYNOPSIS