diff --git a/scripts/build/llext_inject_slids.py b/scripts/build/llext_inject_slids.py
index 19e87edba93..b2f42f0c813 100755
--- a/scripts/build/llext_inject_slids.py
+++ b/scripts/build/llext_inject_slids.py
@@ -36,20 +36,22 @@ class LLEXTSymtabPreparator():
         self.elf = ELFFile(self.elf_fd)
 
     def _find_symtab(self):
-        supported_symtab_sections = [
-            ".symtab",
-            ".dynsym",
-        ]
+        e_type = self.elf.header['e_type']
+        if e_type == 'ET_DYN':
+            symtab_name = ".dynsym"
+        elif e_type == 'ET_REL':
+            symtab_name = ".symtab"
+        else:
+            self.log.error(f"unexpected ELF file type {e_type}")
+            return None
 
-        symtab = None
-        for section_name in supported_symtab_sections:
-            symtab = self.elf.get_section_by_name(section_name)
-            if not isinstance(symtab, SymbolTableSection):
-                self.log.debug(f"section {section_name} not found.")
-            else:
-                self.log.info(f"processing '{section_name}' symbol table...")
-                self.log.debug(f"(symbol table is at file offset 0x{symtab['sh_offset']:X})")
-                break
+        symtab = self.elf.get_section_by_name(symtab_name)
+        if not isinstance(symtab, SymbolTableSection):
+            self.log.debug(f"section {symtab_name} not found.")
+            return None
+
+        self.log.info(f"processing symbol table from '{symtab_name}'...")
+        self.log.debug(f"(symbol table is at file offset 0x{symtab['sh_offset']:X})")
         return symtab
 
     def _find_imports_in_symtab(self, symtab):
diff --git a/subsys/llext/llext_load.c b/subsys/llext/llext_load.c
index 06f4b9a2f97..6f2df7a9131 100644
--- a/subsys/llext/llext_load.c
+++ b/subsys/llext/llext_load.c
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ static int llext_load_elf_data(struct llext_loader *ldr, struct llext *ext)
 static int llext_find_tables(struct llext_loader *ldr, struct llext *ext)
 {
 	int table_cnt, i;
+	int shstrtab_ndx = ldr->hdr.e_shstrndx;
+	int strtab_ndx = -1;
 
 	memset(ldr->sects, 0, sizeof(ldr->sects));
 
@@ -171,28 +173,28 @@ static int llext_find_tables(struct llext_loader *ldr, struct llext *ext)
 			shdr->sh_link,
 			shdr->sh_info);
 
-		switch (shdr->sh_type) {
-		case SHT_SYMTAB:
-		case SHT_DYNSYM:
+		if (shdr->sh_type == SHT_SYMTAB && ldr->hdr.e_type == ET_REL) {
 			LOG_DBG("symtab at %d", i);
 			ldr->sects[LLEXT_MEM_SYMTAB] = *shdr;
 			ldr->sect_map[i].mem_idx = LLEXT_MEM_SYMTAB;
+			strtab_ndx = shdr->sh_link;
 			table_cnt++;
-			break;
-		case SHT_STRTAB:
-			if (ldr->hdr.e_shstrndx == i) {
-				LOG_DBG("shstrtab at %d", i);
-				ldr->sects[LLEXT_MEM_SHSTRTAB] = *shdr;
-				ldr->sect_map[i].mem_idx = LLEXT_MEM_SHSTRTAB;
-			} else {
-				LOG_DBG("strtab at %d", i);
-				ldr->sects[LLEXT_MEM_STRTAB] = *shdr;
-				ldr->sect_map[i].mem_idx = LLEXT_MEM_STRTAB;
-			}
+		} else if (shdr->sh_type == SHT_DYNSYM && ldr->hdr.e_type == ET_DYN) {
+			LOG_DBG("dynsym at %d", i);
+			ldr->sects[LLEXT_MEM_SYMTAB] = *shdr;
+			ldr->sect_map[i].mem_idx = LLEXT_MEM_SYMTAB;
+			strtab_ndx = shdr->sh_link;
+			table_cnt++;
+		} else if (shdr->sh_type == SHT_STRTAB && i == shstrtab_ndx) {
+			LOG_DBG("shstrtab at %d", i);
+			ldr->sects[LLEXT_MEM_SHSTRTAB] = *shdr;
+			ldr->sect_map[i].mem_idx = LLEXT_MEM_SHSTRTAB;
+			table_cnt++;
+		} else if (shdr->sh_type == SHT_STRTAB && i == strtab_ndx) {
+			LOG_DBG("strtab at %d", i);
+			ldr->sects[LLEXT_MEM_STRTAB] = *shdr;
+			ldr->sect_map[i].mem_idx = LLEXT_MEM_STRTAB;
 			table_cnt++;
-			break;
-		default:
-			break;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -395,9 +397,10 @@ static int llext_map_sections(struct llext_loader *ldr, struct llext *ext,
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			if (ldr->hdr.e_type == ET_DYN) {
+			if ((ldr->hdr.e_type == ET_DYN) &&
+			    (x->sh_flags & SHF_ALLOC) && (y->sh_flags & SHF_ALLOC)) {
 				/*
-				 * Test all merged VMA ranges for overlaps
+				 * Test regions that have VMA ranges for overlaps
 				 */
 				if ((x->sh_addr <= y->sh_addr &&
 				     x->sh_addr + x->sh_size > y->sh_addr) ||