diff --git a/core/sched.c b/core/sched.c
index f1414b369..bc85bdc6b 100644
--- a/core/sched.c
+++ b/core/sched.c
@@ -58,13 +58,19 @@ clist_node_t sched_runqueues[SCHED_PRIO_LEVELS];
 static uint32_t runqueue_bitcache = 0;
 
 /* Needed by OpenOCD to read sched_threads */
-__attribute__((used)) __attribute__((section (".openocd")))
+#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(__MACH__)
+ #define FORCE_USED_SECTION __attribute__((used)) __attribute__((section ("__OPENOCD,__openocd")))
+#else
+ #define FORCE_USED_SECTION __attribute__((used)) __attribute__((section (".openocd")))
+#endif
+
+FORCE_USED_SECTION
 uint8_t max_threads = sizeof(sched_threads) / sizeof(thread_t*);
 
 #ifdef DEVELHELP
 /* OpenOCD can't determine struct offsets and additionally this member is only
  * available if compiled with DEVELHELP */
-__attribute__((used)) __attribute__((section (".openocd")))
+FORCE_USED_SECTION
 uint8_t _tcb_name_offset = offsetof(thread_t, name);
 #endif