diff --git a/drivers/common/qat/qat_device.c b/drivers/common/qat/qat_device.c
index f32d72358..db01e5bc2 100644
--- a/drivers/common/qat/qat_device.c
+++ b/drivers/common/qat/qat_device.c
@@ -239,37 +239,37 @@ static struct rte_pci_driver rte_qat_pmd = {
 	.remove = qat_pci_remove
 };
 
-__attribute__((weak)) int
+__rte_weak int
 qat_sym_dev_create(struct qat_pci_device *qat_pci_dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-__attribute__((weak)) int
+__rte_weak int
 qat_asym_dev_create(struct qat_pci_device *qat_pci_dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-__attribute__((weak)) int
+__rte_weak int
 qat_sym_dev_destroy(struct qat_pci_device *qat_pci_dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-__attribute__((weak)) int
+__rte_weak int
 qat_asym_dev_destroy(struct qat_pci_device *qat_pci_dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-__attribute__((weak)) int
+__rte_weak int
 qat_comp_dev_create(struct qat_pci_device *qat_pci_dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-__attribute__((weak)) int
+__rte_weak int
 qat_comp_dev_destroy(struct qat_pci_device *qat_pci_dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/common/qat/qat_qp.c b/drivers/common/qat/qat_qp.c
index 7ca7a45eb..11a2d2e90 100644
--- a/drivers/common/qat/qat_qp.c
+++ b/drivers/common/qat/qat_qp.c
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ qat_dequeue_op_burst(void *qp, void **ops, uint16_t nb_ops)
 	return resp_counter;
 }
 
-__attribute__((weak)) int
+__rte_weak int
 qat_comp_process_response(void **op __rte_unused, uint8_t *resp __rte_unused)
 {
 	return  0;
diff --git a/drivers/net/avf/avf_rxtx.c b/drivers/net/avf/avf_rxtx.c
index 6b3b0191c..8c7a96727 100644
--- a/drivers/net/avf/avf_rxtx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/avf/avf_rxtx.c
@@ -1918,7 +1918,7 @@ avf_dev_tx_desc_status(void *tx_queue, uint16_t offset)
 	return RTE_ETH_TX_DESC_FULL;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 avf_recv_pkts_vec(__rte_unused void *rx_queue,
 		  __rte_unused struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 		  __rte_unused uint16_t nb_pkts)
@@ -1926,7 +1926,7 @@ avf_recv_pkts_vec(__rte_unused void *rx_queue,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 avf_recv_scattered_pkts_vec(__rte_unused void *rx_queue,
 			    __rte_unused struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
 			    __rte_unused uint16_t nb_pkts)
@@ -1934,7 +1934,7 @@ avf_recv_scattered_pkts_vec(__rte_unused void *rx_queue,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 avf_xmit_fixed_burst_vec(__rte_unused void *tx_queue,
 			 __rte_unused struct rte_mbuf **tx_pkts,
 			 __rte_unused uint16_t nb_pkts)
@@ -1942,13 +1942,13 @@ avf_xmit_fixed_burst_vec(__rte_unused void *tx_queue,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 avf_rxq_vec_setup(__rte_unused struct avf_rx_queue *rxq)
 {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 avf_txq_vec_setup(__rte_unused struct avf_tx_queue *txq)
 {
 	return -1;
diff --git a/drivers/net/fm10k/fm10k_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/fm10k/fm10k_ethdev.c
index 46983e5df..72d0b56cf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/fm10k/fm10k_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/fm10k/fm10k_ethdev.c
@@ -129,13 +129,13 @@ fm10k_mbx_unlock(struct fm10k_hw *hw)
 }
 
 /* Stubs needed for linkage when vPMD is disabled */
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 fm10k_rx_vec_condition_check(__rte_unused struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 fm10k_recv_pkts_vec(
 	__rte_unused void *rx_queue,
 	__rte_unused struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ fm10k_recv_pkts_vec(
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 fm10k_recv_scattered_pkts_vec(
 		__rte_unused void *rx_queue,
 		__rte_unused struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts,
@@ -153,33 +153,33 @@ fm10k_recv_scattered_pkts_vec(
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 fm10k_rxq_vec_setup(__rte_unused struct fm10k_rx_queue *rxq)
 
 {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-void __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak void
 fm10k_rx_queue_release_mbufs_vec(
 		__rte_unused struct fm10k_rx_queue *rxq)
 {
 	return;
 }
 
-void __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak void
 fm10k_txq_vec_setup(__rte_unused struct fm10k_tx_queue *txq)
 {
 	return;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 fm10k_tx_vec_condition_check(__rte_unused struct fm10k_tx_queue *txq)
 {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 fm10k_xmit_fixed_burst_vec(__rte_unused void *tx_queue,
 			   __rte_unused struct rte_mbuf **tx_pkts,
 			   __rte_unused uint16_t nb_pkts)
diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_rxtx.c b/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_rxtx.c
index 7c986d535..12d3c8a93 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_rxtx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_rxtx.c
@@ -3175,13 +3175,13 @@ i40e_set_default_pctype_table(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 }
 
 /* Stubs needed for linkage when CONFIG_RTE_I40E_INC_VECTOR is set to 'n' */
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 i40e_rx_vec_dev_conf_condition_check(struct rte_eth_dev __rte_unused *dev)
 {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 i40e_recv_pkts_vec(
 	void __rte_unused *rx_queue,
 	struct rte_mbuf __rte_unused **rx_pkts,
@@ -3190,7 +3190,7 @@ i40e_recv_pkts_vec(
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 i40e_recv_scattered_pkts_vec(
 	void __rte_unused *rx_queue,
 	struct rte_mbuf __rte_unused **rx_pkts,
@@ -3199,7 +3199,7 @@ i40e_recv_scattered_pkts_vec(
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 i40e_recv_pkts_vec_avx2(void __rte_unused *rx_queue,
 			struct rte_mbuf __rte_unused **rx_pkts,
 			uint16_t __rte_unused nb_pkts)
@@ -3207,7 +3207,7 @@ i40e_recv_pkts_vec_avx2(void __rte_unused *rx_queue,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 i40e_recv_scattered_pkts_vec_avx2(void __rte_unused *rx_queue,
 			struct rte_mbuf __rte_unused **rx_pkts,
 			uint16_t __rte_unused nb_pkts)
@@ -3215,25 +3215,25 @@ i40e_recv_scattered_pkts_vec_avx2(void __rte_unused *rx_queue,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 i40e_rxq_vec_setup(struct i40e_rx_queue __rte_unused *rxq)
 {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 i40e_txq_vec_setup(struct i40e_tx_queue __rte_unused *txq)
 {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-void __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak void
 i40e_rx_queue_release_mbufs_vec(struct i40e_rx_queue __rte_unused*rxq)
 {
 	return;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 i40e_xmit_fixed_burst_vec(void __rte_unused * tx_queue,
 			  struct rte_mbuf __rte_unused **tx_pkts,
 			  uint16_t __rte_unused nb_pkts)
@@ -3241,7 +3241,7 @@ i40e_xmit_fixed_burst_vec(void __rte_unused * tx_queue,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 i40e_xmit_pkts_vec_avx2(void __rte_unused * tx_queue,
 			  struct rte_mbuf __rte_unused **tx_pkts,
 			  uint16_t __rte_unused nb_pkts)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_rxtx.c b/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_rxtx.c
index ae21f04a1..f5523fd96 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_rxtx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_rxtx.c
@@ -5716,13 +5716,13 @@ ixgbe_config_rss_filter(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 }
 
 /* Stubs needed for linkage when CONFIG_RTE_IXGBE_INC_VECTOR is set to 'n' */
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 ixgbe_rx_vec_dev_conf_condition_check(struct rte_eth_dev __rte_unused *dev)
 {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 ixgbe_recv_pkts_vec(
 	void __rte_unused *rx_queue,
 	struct rte_mbuf __rte_unused **rx_pkts,
@@ -5731,7 +5731,7 @@ ixgbe_recv_pkts_vec(
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 ixgbe_recv_scattered_pkts_vec(
 	void __rte_unused *rx_queue,
 	struct rte_mbuf __rte_unused **rx_pkts,
@@ -5740,7 +5740,7 @@ ixgbe_recv_scattered_pkts_vec(
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 ixgbe_rxq_vec_setup(struct ixgbe_rx_queue __rte_unused *rxq)
 {
 	return -1;
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rxtx.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rxtx.c
index 558e6b60a..497fe2c0a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rxtx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_rxtx.c
@@ -2324,7 +2324,7 @@ removed_rx_burst(void *dpdk_txq __rte_unused,
  * (e.g.  mlx5_rxtx_vec_sse.c for x86).
  */
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 mlx5_tx_burst_raw_vec(void *dpdk_txq __rte_unused,
 		      struct rte_mbuf **pkts __rte_unused,
 		      uint16_t pkts_n __rte_unused)
@@ -2332,7 +2332,7 @@ mlx5_tx_burst_raw_vec(void *dpdk_txq __rte_unused,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 mlx5_tx_burst_vec(void *dpdk_txq __rte_unused,
 		  struct rte_mbuf **pkts __rte_unused,
 		  uint16_t pkts_n __rte_unused)
@@ -2340,7 +2340,7 @@ mlx5_tx_burst_vec(void *dpdk_txq __rte_unused,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 mlx5_rx_burst_vec(void *dpdk_txq __rte_unused,
 		  struct rte_mbuf **pkts __rte_unused,
 		  uint16_t pkts_n __rte_unused)
@@ -2348,25 +2348,25 @@ mlx5_rx_burst_vec(void *dpdk_txq __rte_unused,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 mlx5_check_raw_vec_tx_support(struct rte_eth_dev *dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return -ENOTSUP;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 mlx5_check_vec_tx_support(struct rte_eth_dev *dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return -ENOTSUP;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 mlx5_rxq_check_vec_support(struct mlx5_rxq_data *rxq __rte_unused)
 {
 	return -ENOTSUP;
 }
 
-int __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 mlx5_check_vec_rx_support(struct rte_eth_dev *dev __rte_unused)
 {
 	return -ENOTSUP;
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple.c
index 31e565b4c..f8bcbaa1c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_rxtx_simple.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ virtio_rxq_vec_setup(struct virtnet_rx *rxq)
 }
 
 /* Stub for linkage when arch specific implementation is not available */
-uint16_t __attribute__((weak))
+__rte_weak uint16_t
 virtio_recv_pkts_vec(void *rx_queue __rte_unused,
 		     struct rte_mbuf **rx_pkts __rte_unused,
 		     uint16_t nb_pkts __rte_unused)
diff --git a/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.c b/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.c
index 2f1243cde..db7d3221e 100644
--- a/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.c
+++ b/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_acl_tailq)
  * If the compiler doesn't support AVX2 instructions,
  * then the dummy one would be used instead for AVX2 classify method.
  */
-int __attribute__ ((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 rte_acl_classify_avx2(__rte_unused const struct rte_acl_ctx *ctx,
 	__rte_unused const uint8_t **data,
 	__rte_unused uint32_t *results,
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ rte_acl_classify_avx2(__rte_unused const struct rte_acl_ctx *ctx,
 	return -ENOTSUP;
 }
 
-int __attribute__ ((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 rte_acl_classify_sse(__rte_unused const struct rte_acl_ctx *ctx,
 	__rte_unused const uint8_t **data,
 	__rte_unused uint32_t *results,
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ rte_acl_classify_sse(__rte_unused const struct rte_acl_ctx *ctx,
 	return -ENOTSUP;
 }
 
-int __attribute__ ((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 rte_acl_classify_neon(__rte_unused const struct rte_acl_ctx *ctx,
 	__rte_unused const uint8_t **data,
 	__rte_unused uint32_t *results,
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ rte_acl_classify_neon(__rte_unused const struct rte_acl_ctx *ctx,
 	return -ENOTSUP;
 }
 
-int __attribute__ ((weak))
+__rte_weak int
 rte_acl_classify_altivec(__rte_unused const struct rte_acl_ctx *ctx,
 	__rte_unused const uint8_t **data,
 	__rte_unused uint32_t *results,
diff --git a/lib/librte_bpf/bpf_load.c b/lib/librte_bpf/bpf_load.c
index 2b84fe724..d9d163b7d 100644
--- a/lib/librte_bpf/bpf_load.c
+++ b/lib/librte_bpf/bpf_load.c
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ rte_bpf_load(const struct rte_bpf_prm *prm)
 	return bpf;
 }
 
-__rte_experimental __attribute__ ((weak)) struct rte_bpf *
+__rte_experimental __rte_weak struct rte_bpf *
 rte_bpf_elf_load(const struct rte_bpf_prm *prm, const char *fname,
 	const char *sname)
 {
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_common.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_common.h
index 069c13ec7..2c4535b1a 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_common.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_common.h
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ typedef uint16_t unaligned_uint16_t;
 /******* Macro to mark functions and fields scheduled for removal *****/
 #define __rte_deprecated	__attribute__((__deprecated__))
 
+/**
+ * short definition to mark a function or variable to a weak reference.
+ */
+#define __rte_weak		__attribute__((__weak__))
+
 /*********** Macros to eliminate unused variable warnings ********/
 
 /**
