diff --git a/crosstool/cc_toolchain_config.bzl b/crosstool/cc_toolchain_config.bzl
index 330185a..fba1832 100644
--- a/crosstool/cc_toolchain_config.bzl
+++ b/crosstool/cc_toolchain_config.bzl
@@ -1051,6 +1051,11 @@ please file an issue at https://github.com/bazelbuild/apple_support/issues/new
                     ),
                 ],
             ),
+            flag_set(
+                actions = _DYNAMIC_LINK_ACTIONS,
+                flag_groups = [flag_group(flags = ["-dead_strip"])],
+                with_features = [with_feature_set(features = ["opt"])],
+            ),
         ],
     )
 
@@ -2057,14 +2062,9 @@ please file an issue at https://github.com/bazelbuild/apple_support/issues/new
         flag_sets = [
             flag_set(
                 actions = _DYNAMIC_LINK_ACTIONS,
-                flag_groups = [
-                    flag_group(
-                        flags = ["-dead_strip"],
-                    ),
-                ],
+                flag_groups = [flag_group(flags = ["-dead_strip"])],
             ),
         ],
-        requires = [feature_set(features = ["opt"])],
     )
 
     oso_prefix_feature = feature(
diff --git a/test/linking_tests.bzl b/test/linking_tests.bzl
index ed1032f..504a08f 100644
--- a/test/linking_tests.bzl
+++ b/test/linking_tests.bzl
@@ -7,6 +7,21 @@ load(
 
 default_test = make_action_command_line_test_rule()
 
+opt_test = make_action_command_line_test_rule(
+    config_settings = {
+        "//command_line_option:compilation_mode": "opt",
+    },
+)
+
+dead_strip_requested_test = make_action_command_line_test_rule(
+    config_settings = {
+        "//command_line_option:compilation_mode": "fastbuild",
+        "//command_line_option:features": [
+            "dead_strip",
+        ],
+    },
+)
+
 disable_objc_test = make_action_command_line_test_rule(
     config_settings = {
         "//command_line_option:features": [
@@ -22,6 +37,11 @@ dsym_test = make_action_command_line_test_rule(
 )
 
 def linking_test_suite(name):
+    """Tests for linking behavior.
+
+    Args:
+        name: The name to be included in test names and tags.
+    """
     default_test(
         name = "{}_default_apple_link_test".format(name),
         tags = [name],
@@ -35,6 +55,37 @@ def linking_test_suite(name):
         not_expected_argv = [
             "-g",
             "DSYM_HINT_LINKED_BINARY",
+            "-dead_strip",
+        ],
+        mnemonic = "ObjcLink",
+        target_under_test = "//test/test_data:macos_binary",
+    )
+
+    opt_test(
+        name = "{}_opt_link_test".format(name),
+        tags = [name],
+        expected_argv = [
+            "-Xlinker",
+            "-objc_abi_version",
+            "-Xlinker",
+            "2",
+            "-ObjC",
+            "-dead_strip",
+        ],
+        mnemonic = "ObjcLink",
+        target_under_test = "//test/test_data:macos_binary",
+    )
+
+    dead_strip_requested_test(
+        name = "{}_dead_strip_requested_test".format(name),
+        tags = [name],
+        expected_argv = [
+            "-Xlinker",
+            "-objc_abi_version",
+            "-Xlinker",
+            "2",
+            "-ObjC",
+            "-dead_strip",
         ],
         mnemonic = "ObjcLink",
         target_under_test = "//test/test_data:macos_binary",