diff --git a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/max-depth.c b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/max-depth.c
index fee5de5af34..7e46b134c10 100644
--- a/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/max-depth.c
+++ b/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/max-depth.c
@@ -225,8 +225,17 @@ struct V7 : virtual V4, virtual V5, virtual V6 { int v7 = 1; } v7;
 
 #endif /* __cplusplus */
 
+void Do_nothing (struct s1 sone)
+{
+  /*  This Function does nothing.  */
+}
+
 int
 main ()
 {
+  /*  In targets like AIX, linker optimises out unused global
+      variables.  The do_nothing () function stops the linker
+      from doing so.  */
+  Do_nothing (s1);
   return 0;
 }