diff --git a/libc/Android.mk b/libc/Android.mk
index 360bdc1..c98d2ff 100644
--- a/libc/Android.mk
+++ b/libc/Android.mk
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@
     bionic/dirent.cpp \
     bionic/eventfd.cpp \
     bionic/__fgets_chk.cpp \
+    bionic/getauxval.cpp \
     bionic/getcwd.cpp \
     bionic/libgen.cpp \
     bionic/__memcpy_chk.cpp \
diff --git a/libc/bionic/getauxval.cpp b/libc/bionic/getauxval.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38a05fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libc/bionic/getauxval.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 The Android Open Source Project
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ *  * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *  * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *    the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *    distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+ * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
+ * BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS
+ * OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
+ * AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+ * OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
+ * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <sys/cdefs.h>
+#include <sys/auxv.h>
+#include <private/bionic_auxv.h>
+#include <elf.h>
+
+__LIBC_HIDDEN__
+Elf32_auxv_t* __libc_auxv = NULL;
+
+extern "C" unsigned long int getauxval(unsigned long int type) {
+  Elf32_auxv_t* v;
+
+  for (v = __libc_auxv; v->a_type != AT_NULL; v++) {
+    if (v->a_type == type) {
+      return v->a_un.a_val;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/libc/bionic/libc_init_common.c b/libc/bionic/libc_init_common.c
index fb164f4..86e1eb5 100644
--- a/libc/bionic/libc_init_common.c
+++ b/libc/bionic/libc_init_common.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 
 #include <bionic_tls.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <private/bionic_auxv.h>
 
 extern unsigned __get_sp(void);
 extern pid_t gettid(void);
@@ -95,6 +96,15 @@
   __progname = argv[0] ? argv[0] : "<unknown>";
   environ = envp;
 
+  // The auxiliary vector is at the end of the environment block
+  while(*envp != NULL) {
+    envp++;
+  }
+  /* The end of the environment block is marked by two NULL pointers */
+  envp++;
+
+  __libc_auxv = (Elf32_auxv_t*) envp;
+
   __system_properties_init(); // Requires 'environ'.
 }
 
diff --git a/libc/bionic/libc_init_static.c b/libc/bionic/libc_init_static.c
index ba7f008..24a4397 100644
--- a/libc/bionic/libc_init_static.c
+++ b/libc/bionic/libc_init_static.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 #include <bionic_tls.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <sys/mman.h>
+#include <sys/auxv.h>
 
 // Returns the address of the page containing address 'x'.
 #define PAGE_START(x)  ((x) & PAGE_MASK)
@@ -65,27 +66,13 @@
     }
 }
 
-/*
- * Find the value of the AT_* variable passed to us by the kernel.
- */
-static unsigned find_aux(unsigned *vecs, unsigned type) {
-    while (vecs[0]) {
-        if (vecs[0] == type) {
-            return vecs[1];
-        }
-        vecs += 2;
-    }
-
-    return 0; // should never happen
-}
-
-static void apply_gnu_relro(unsigned *vecs) {
+static void apply_gnu_relro() {
     Elf32_Phdr *phdr_start;
-    unsigned phdr_ct;
+    unsigned long int phdr_ct;
     Elf32_Phdr *phdr;
 
-    phdr_start = (Elf32_Phdr *) find_aux(vecs, AT_PHDR);
-    phdr_ct    = find_aux(vecs, AT_PHNUM);
+    phdr_start = (Elf32_Phdr *) getauxval(AT_PHDR);
+    phdr_ct    = getauxval(AT_PHNUM);
 
     for (phdr = phdr_start; phdr < (phdr_start + phdr_ct); phdr++) {
         if (phdr->p_type != PT_GNU_RELRO)
@@ -108,13 +95,14 @@
 {
     int  argc;
     char **argv, **envp;
-    unsigned *vecs;
 
     __libc_init_tls(NULL);
 
     /* Initialize the C runtime environment */
     __libc_init_common(elfdata);
 
+    apply_gnu_relro();
+
     /* Several Linux ABIs don't pass the onexit pointer, and the ones that
      * do never use it.  Therefore, we ignore it.
      */
@@ -129,14 +117,6 @@
     argv = (char**)(elfdata + 1);
     envp = argv + argc + 1;
 
-    // The auxiliary vector is at the end of the environment block
-    vecs = (unsigned *) envp;
-    while (vecs[0] != 0) {
-        vecs++;
-    }
-    /* The end of the environment block is marked by two NULL pointers */
-    vecs++;
-
     /* The executable may have its own destructors listed in its .fini_array
      * so we need to ensure that these are called when the program exits
      * normally.
@@ -144,6 +124,5 @@
     if (structors->fini_array)
         __cxa_atexit(__libc_fini,structors->fini_array,NULL);
 
-    apply_gnu_relro(vecs);
     exit(slingshot(argc, argv, envp));
 }
diff --git a/libc/include/elf.h b/libc/include/elf.h
index c3e3226..ac0f1d2 100644
--- a/libc/include/elf.h
+++ b/libc/include/elf.h
@@ -28,8 +28,23 @@
 #ifndef _ELF_H
 #define _ELF_H
 
+#include <stdint.h>
 #include <linux/auxvec.h>
 #include <sys/exec_elf.h>
 
+typedef struct {
+  uint32_t a_type;
+  union {
+    uint32_t a_val;
+  } a_un;
+} Elf32_auxv_t;
+
+typedef struct {
+  uint64_t a_type;
+  union {
+    uint64_t a_val;
+  } a_un;
+} Elf64_auxv_t;
+
 #endif /* _ELF_H */
 
diff --git a/libc/include/sys/auxv.h b/libc/include/sys/auxv.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..918442f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libc/include/sys/auxv.h
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 The Android Open Source Project
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ *  * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *  * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *    the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *    distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+ * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
+ * BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS
+ * OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
+ * AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+ * OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
+ * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+#ifndef _SYS_AUXV_H_
+#define _SYS_AUXV_H_
+
+#include <linux/auxvec.h>
+
+__BEGIN_DECLS
+
+unsigned long int getauxval(unsigned long int type);
+
+__END_DECLS
+
+#endif /* _SYS_AUXV_H_ */
diff --git a/libc/private/bionic_auxv.h b/libc/private/bionic_auxv.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d3b0038
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libc/private/bionic_auxv.h
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 The Android Open Source Project
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ *  * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *  * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *    the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *    distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+ * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
+ * BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS
+ * OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
+ * AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+ * OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
+ * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+#ifndef _SYS_AUXV_H_
+#define _SYS_AUXV_H_
+
+#include <elf.h>
+
+__BEGIN_DECLS
+
+extern Elf32_auxv_t* __libc_auxv;
+
+__END_DECLS
+
+#endif /* _SYS_AUXV_H_ */
diff --git a/linker/linker.cpp b/linker/linker.cpp
index 09f479f..0a89b72 100755
--- a/linker/linker.cpp
+++ b/linker/linker.cpp
@@ -1511,8 +1511,9 @@
 
     /* Extract dynamic section */
     size_t dynamic_count;
+    Elf32_Word dynamic_flags;
     phdr_table_get_dynamic_section(phdr, phnum, base, &si->dynamic,
-                                   &dynamic_count);
+                                   &dynamic_count, &dynamic_flags);
     if (si->dynamic == NULL) {
         if (!relocating_linker) {
             DL_ERR("missing PT_DYNAMIC in \"%s\"", si->name);
@@ -1568,10 +1569,11 @@
             si->plt_got = (unsigned *)(base + *d);
             break;
         case DT_DEBUG:
-#if !defined(ANDROID_MIPS_LINKER)
             // Set the DT_DEBUG entry to the address of _r_debug for GDB
-            *d = (int) &_r_debug;
-#endif
+            // if the dynamic table is writable
+            if ((dynamic_flags & PF_W) != 0) {
+                *d = (int) &_r_debug;
+            }
             break;
          case DT_RELA:
             DL_ERR("unsupported DT_RELA in \"%s\"", si->name);
@@ -1866,7 +1868,7 @@
     Elf32_Phdr *phdr =
         (Elf32_Phdr *)((unsigned char *) linker_base + elf_hdr->e_phoff);
     phdr_table_get_dynamic_section(phdr, elf_hdr->e_phnum, linker_base,
-                                   &linker_soinfo.dynamic, NULL);
+                                   &linker_soinfo.dynamic, NULL, NULL);
     insert_soinfo_into_debug_map(&linker_soinfo);
 
     /* extract information passed from the kernel */
diff --git a/linker/linker_phdr.cpp b/linker/linker_phdr.cpp
index 1990366..94260fa 100644
--- a/linker/linker_phdr.cpp
+++ b/linker/linker_phdr.cpp
@@ -542,6 +542,7 @@
  * Output:
  *   dynamic       -> address of table in memory (NULL on failure).
  *   dynamic_count -> number of items in table (0 on failure).
+ *   dynamic_flags -> protection flags for section (unset on failure)
  * Return:
  *   void
  */
@@ -550,7 +551,8 @@
                                int               phdr_count,
                                Elf32_Addr        load_bias,
                                Elf32_Addr**      dynamic,
-                               size_t*           dynamic_count)
+                               size_t*           dynamic_count,
+                               Elf32_Word*       dynamic_flags)
 {
     const Elf32_Phdr* phdr = phdr_table;
     const Elf32_Phdr* phdr_limit = phdr + phdr_count;
@@ -564,6 +566,9 @@
         if (dynamic_count) {
             *dynamic_count = (unsigned)(phdr->p_memsz / 8);
         }
+        if (dynamic_flags) {
+            *dynamic_flags = phdr->p_flags;
+        }
         return;
     }
     *dynamic = NULL;
diff --git a/linker/linker_phdr.h b/linker/linker_phdr.h
index 2d4d735..d9a4820 100644
--- a/linker/linker_phdr.h
+++ b/linker/linker_phdr.h
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@
                                int               phdr_count,
                                Elf32_Addr        load_bias,
                                Elf32_Addr**      dynamic,
-                               size_t*           dynamic_count);
+                               size_t*           dynamic_count,
+                               Elf32_Word*       dynamic_flags);
 
 #endif /* LINKER_PHDR_H */
diff --git a/tests/Android.mk b/tests/Android.mk
index 635c021..25da120 100644
--- a/tests/Android.mk
+++ b/tests/Android.mk
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 test_src_files = \
     dirent_test.cpp \
     fenv_test.cpp \
+    getauxval_test.cpp \
     getcwd_test.cpp \
     libgen_test.cpp \
     pthread_test.cpp \
diff --git a/tests/getauxval_test.cpp b/tests/getauxval_test.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..01c11c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/getauxval_test.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2013 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#include <sys/cdefs.h>
+#include <features.h>
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+// getauxval() was only added as of glibc version 2.16.
+// See: http://lwn.net/Articles/519085/
+// Don't try to compile this code on older glibc versions.
+
+#if defined(__BIONIC__)
+  #define GETAUXVAL_CAN_COMPILE 1
+#elif defined(__GLIBC_PREREQ)
+  #if __GLIBC_PREREQ(2, 16)
+    #define GETAUXVAL_CAN_COMPILE 1
+  #endif
+#endif
+
+#if defined(GETAUXVAL_CAN_COMPILE)
+
+#include <sys/auxv.h>
+
+TEST(getauxval, expected_values) {
+  ASSERT_EQ((unsigned long int) 0, getauxval(AT_SECURE));
+  ASSERT_EQ(getuid(), getauxval(AT_UID));
+  ASSERT_EQ(geteuid(), getauxval(AT_EUID));
+  ASSERT_EQ(getgid(), getauxval(AT_GID));
+  ASSERT_EQ(getegid(), getauxval(AT_EGID));
+  ASSERT_EQ((unsigned long int) getpagesize(), getauxval(AT_PAGESZ));
+
+  ASSERT_NE((unsigned long int) 0, getauxval(AT_PHDR));
+  ASSERT_NE((unsigned long int) 0, getauxval(AT_PHNUM));
+  ASSERT_NE((unsigned long int) 0, getauxval(AT_ENTRY));
+  ASSERT_NE((unsigned long int) 0, getauxval(AT_PAGESZ));
+}
+
+TEST(getauxval, unexpected_values) {
+  ASSERT_EQ((unsigned long int) 0, getauxval(0xdeadbeef));
+}
+
+#endif /* GETAUXVAL_CAN_COMPILE */