diff --git a/build/config/compiler/BUILD.gn b/build/config/compiler/BUILD.gn
index 073adcba4a683c..5b53a67e0a5792 100644
--- a/build/config/compiler/BUILD.gn
+++ b/build/config/compiler/BUILD.gn
@@ -671,3 +671,10 @@ config("specs_default") {
     ldflags = cflags
   }
 }
+
+config("link_as_needed") {
+  # ld64.lld on clang used by Apple does not have a --as-needed option
+  if (current_os != "mac" && current_os != "ios") {
+    ldflags = [ "-Wl,--as-needed" ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/build/config/defaults.gni b/build/config/defaults.gni
index 08bd0030ee786b..aec03cc733a0a3 100644
--- a/build/config/defaults.gni
+++ b/build/config/defaults.gni
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ declare_args() {
   # Defaults configs for pie.
   default_configs_pie = [ "${build_root}/config/compiler:pie_default" ]
 
+  # Default configs for GNU ld --as-needed
+  default_configs_link_as_needed =
+      [ "${build_root}/config/compiler:link_as_needed" ]
+
   # Defaults configs for warnings.
   default_configs_warnings =
       [ "${build_root}/config/compiler:warnings_default" ]
@@ -124,3 +128,4 @@ default_configs += default_configs_extra
 
 executable_default_configs = []
 executable_default_configs += default_configs_pie
+executable_default_configs += default_configs_link_as_needed