+@kindex --warn-execstack
+@cindex warnings, on executable stack
+@cindex executable stack, warnings on
+@item --warn-execstack
+@itemx --no-warn-execstack
+On ELF platforms this option controls how the linker generates warning
+messages when it creates an output file with an executable stack. By
+default the linker will not warn if the @command{-z execstack} command
+line option has been used, but this behaviour can be overridden by the
+@option{--warn-execstack} option.
+
+On the other hand the linker will normally warn if the stack is made
+executable because one or more of the input files need an execuable
+stack and neither of the @command{-z execstack} or @command{-z
+noexecstack} command line options have been specified. This warning
+can be disabled via the @command{--no-warn-execstack} option.
+
+Note: ELF format input files specify that they need an executable
+stack by having a @var{.note.GNU-stack} section with the executable
+bit set in its section flags. They can specify that they do not need
+an executable stack by having that section, but without the executable
+flag bit set. If an input file does not have a @var{.note.GNU-stack}
+section present then the default behaviour is target specific. For
+some targets, then absence of such a section implies that an
+executable stack @emph{is} required. This is often a problem for hand
+crafted assembler files.
+