diff --git a/apps/plugins/chessbox/chessbox.make b/apps/plugins/chessbox/chessbox.make
index 87f0a6ecc0..77a038febc 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/chessbox/chessbox.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/chessbox/chessbox.make
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ $(CHESSBOX_OBJDIR)/chessbox.ovl: $(CHESSBOX_OBJ) $(CHESSBOX_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(CHESSBOX_OVLFLAGS)
-	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
+	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy_plugin,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
 
 # special pattern rule for compiling chessbox with extra flags
 $(CHESSBOX_OBJDIR)/%.o: $(CHESSBOX_SRCDIR)/%.c $(CHESSBOX_SRCDIR)/chessbox.make
diff --git a/apps/plugins/goban/goban.make b/apps/plugins/goban/goban.make
index 2201dc60f4..ae221e8840 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/goban/goban.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/goban/goban.make
@@ -36,4 +36,4 @@ $(GOBAN_BUILDDIR)/goban.ovl: $(GOBAN_OBJ) $(GOBAN_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(GOBAN_OVLFLAGS)
-	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
+	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy_plugin,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
diff --git a/apps/plugins/imageviewer/imageviewer.make b/apps/plugins/imageviewer/imageviewer.make
index 23f9813357..25701fc6d2 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/imageviewer/imageviewer.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/imageviewer/imageviewer.make
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ $(IMGVBUILDDIR)/%.ovl: $(IMGDEC_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter-out $(PLUGIN_CRT0),$(filter %.o, $^)) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(IMGDEC_OVLFLAGS)
-	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy,$(IMGVBUILDDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
+	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy_plugin,$(IMGVBUILDDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
 
 # rule to create reference map for image decoder
 $(IMGVBUILDDIR)/%.refmap: $(APPSDIR)/plugin.h $(IMGVSRCDIR)/imageviewer.h $(PLUGINLINK_LDS) $(PLUGIN_LIBS)
diff --git a/apps/plugins/lua/lua.make b/apps/plugins/lua/lua.make
index a5d1813a8b..ec8a7e8b38 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/lua/lua.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/lua/lua.make
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ $(LUA_BUILDDIR)/lua.ovl: $(LUA_OBJ) $(TLSFLIB) $(LUA_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(LUA_OVLFLAGS)
-	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
+	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy_plugin,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
 
 $(LUA_BUILDDIR):
 	$(call PRINTS,MKDIR $@)mkdir -p $(LUA_BUILDDIR)/
diff --git a/apps/plugins/pictureflow/pictureflow.make b/apps/plugins/pictureflow/pictureflow.make
index e13ba61a72..7436af2433 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/pictureflow/pictureflow.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/pictureflow/pictureflow.make
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ $(PICTUREFLOW_OBJDIR)/pictureflow.ovl: $(PICTUREFLOW_OBJ) $(PICTUREFLOW_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(PICTUREFLOW_OVLFLAGS)
-	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
+	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy_plugin,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
 
 # special pattern rule for compiling pictureflow with extra flags
 $(PICTUREFLOW_OBJDIR)/%.o: $(PICTUREFLOW_SRCDIR)/%.c $(PICTUREFLOW_SRCDIR)/pictureflow.make
diff --git a/apps/plugins/plugins.make b/apps/plugins/plugins.make
index 2babb329a5..8620d3f9c0 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/plugins.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/plugins.make
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ $(BUILDDIR)/%.rock:
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(PLUGINLDFLAGS)
-	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy,$(BUILDDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
+	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy_plugin,$(BUILDDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
 
 $(BUILDDIR)/apps/plugins/%.lua: $(ROOTDIR)/apps/plugins/%.lua
 	$(call PRINTS,CP $(subst $(ROOTDIR)/,,$<))cp $< $(BUILDDIR)/apps/plugins/
diff --git a/apps/plugins/puzzles/puzzles.make b/apps/plugins/puzzles/puzzles.make
index 91e84c50da..4c3322d32e 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/puzzles/puzzles.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/puzzles/puzzles.make
@@ -49,14 +49,14 @@ $(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/sgt-%.rock: $(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/src/%.o $(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/help/%
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(filter-out -Wl%.map, $(PLUGINLDFLAGS)) -Wl,$(LDMAP_OPT),$(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/src/$*.map
-	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy,$(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
+	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy_plugin,$(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
 
 $(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/sgt-%.rock: $(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/src/unfinished/%.o $(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/help/%.o $(PUZZLES_SHARED_OBJ) $(TLSFLIB)
 	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(CC) $(PLUGINFLAGS) -o $(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/$*.elf \
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(filter-out -Wl%.map, $(PLUGINLDFLAGS)) -Wl,$(LDMAP_OPT),$(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/src/$*.map
-	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy,$(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
+	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy_plugin,$(PUZZLES_OBJDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
 
 $(PUZZLES_SRCDIR)/rbcompat.h:	$(APPSDIR)/plugin.h			\
 				$(APPSDIR)/plugins/lib/pluginlib_exit.h	\
diff --git a/apps/plugins/rockboy/rockboy.make b/apps/plugins/rockboy/rockboy.make
index 8be44ef9c5..8725604933 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/rockboy/rockboy.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/rockboy/rockboy.make
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ $(ROCKBOY_OBJDIR)/rockboy.ovl: $(ROCKBOY_OBJ) $(ROCKBOY_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(ROCKBOY_OVLFLAGS)
-	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
+	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy_plugin,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
 
 # special rule to build with devkitarm gcc
 ifeq ($(APP_TYPE),ctru-app)
diff --git a/apps/plugins/sdl/sdl.make b/apps/plugins/sdl/sdl.make
index 9d666bd732..7234656268 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/sdl/sdl.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/sdl/sdl.make
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ $(SDL_OBJDIR)/wolf3d.ovl: $(SDL_OBJ) $(WOLF3D_OBJ) $(TLSFLIB) $(WOLF3D_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc  -T$(WOLF3D_OUTLDS) $(SDL_OVLFLAGS)
-	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
+	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy_plugin,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
 
 # Quake
 ###
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ $(SDL_OBJDIR)/quake.ovl: $(SDL_OBJ) $(QUAKE_OBJ) $(TLSFLIB) $(QUAKE_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc -T$(QUAKE_OUTLDS) $(SDL_OVLFLAGS)
-	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
+	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy_plugin,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
 
 ###
 
diff --git a/apps/plugins/zxbox/zxbox.make b/apps/plugins/zxbox/zxbox.make
index 4638d5f0a2..1ee64d6fb5 100644
--- a/apps/plugins/zxbox/zxbox.make
+++ b/apps/plugins/zxbox/zxbox.make
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ $(ZXBOX_OBJDIR)/zxbox.ovl: $(ZXBOX_OBJ) $(ZXBOX_OUTLDS)
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(ZXBOX_LDFLAGS)
-	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
+	$(call PRINTS,LD $(@F))$(call objcopy_plugin,$(basename $@).elf,$@)
 
 # special pattern rule for compiling zxbox with extra flags
 $(ZXBOX_OBJDIR)/%.o: $(ZXBOX_SRCDIR)/%.c $(ZXBOX_SRCDIR)/zxbox.make
diff --git a/lib/rbcodec/codecs/codecs.make b/lib/rbcodec/codecs/codecs.make
index 6d790f5d9a..6f20a8c101 100644
--- a/lib/rbcodec/codecs/codecs.make
+++ b/lib/rbcodec/codecs/codecs.make
@@ -245,4 +245,4 @@ $(CODECDIR)/%.codec: $(CODECDIR)/%.o
 		$(filter %.o, $^) \
 		$(filter %.a, $+) \
 		-lgcc $(CODECLDFLAGS)
-	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy,$(CODECDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
+	$(SILENT)$(call objcopy_plugin,$(CODECDIR)/$*.elf,$@)
diff --git a/tools/configure b/tools/configure
index b1260d88c2..09178d0426 100755
--- a/tools/configure
+++ b/tools/configure
@@ -1755,6 +1755,7 @@ fi
   x1000tools="$genericbitmaptools scramble mkspl-x1000 uclpack"
   # default to not generating ELF files
   USE_ELF="no"
+  PLUGIN_USE_ELF="no"
 
   #  ---- For each target ----
   #
@@ -4964,6 +4965,7 @@ export TTS_ENGINE=${TTS_ENGINE}
 export ENC_OPTS=${ENC_OPTS}
 export ENCODER=${ENCODER}
 export USE_ELF=${USE_ELF}
+export PLUGIN_USE_ELF=${PLUGIN_USE_ELF}
 export RBDIR=${rbdir}
 export ROCKBOX_SHARE_PATH=${sharedir}
 export ROCKBOX_BINARY_PATH=${bindir}
diff --git a/tools/functions.make b/tools/functions.make
index 1c16e1415f..ccb23102fc 100644
--- a/tools/functions.make
+++ b/tools/functions.make
@@ -38,15 +38,20 @@ a2lnk = $(patsubst lib%.a,-l%,$(notdir $(1)))
 # handles the $(1) == $(2) case too
 ifndef APP_TYPE
 objcopy = $(OC) $(if $(filter yes, $(USE_ELF)), -S -x, -O binary) $(1) $(2)	# objcopy native
+objcopy_plugin = $(OC) $(if $(filter yes, $(PLUGIN_USE_ELF)), -S -x, -O binary) $(1) $(2)
 else ifneq (,$(findstring sdl-sim,$(APP_TYPE)))
 objcopy = cp $(1) $(1).tmp;mv -f $(1).tmp $(2)		# objcopy simulator
+objcopy_plugin = $(objcopy)
 else ifneq (,$(findstring ctru,$(MODELNAME))) 		# 3dsxtool requires symbols
 objcopy = cp $(1) $(1).tmp;mv -f $(1).tmp $(2)
+objcopy_plugin = $(objcopy)
 else
   ifdef DEBUG
     objcopy = cp $(1) $(1).tmp;mv -f $(1).tmp $(2)	# objcopy hosted (DEBUG)
+    objcopy_plugin = $(objcopy)
   else
     objcopy = $(OC) -S -x $(1) $(2)					# objcopy hosted (!DEBUG)
+    objcopy_plugin = $(objcopy)
    endif
 endif