diff --git a/targettest/minimal.c b/targettest/minimal.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..65ec37a97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/targettest/minimal.c
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+ 
+/* this is a minimal / empty c program, any supported target that has some
+ * sort of C support should be able to link this. Failure indicates a problem
+ * with the crt0 or the linker config of the respective target */
+
+char bss_variable;
+char data_variable = 42;
+const char rodata_variable = 23;
+
+void main(void)
+{
+    /* nothing here */
+}