diff --git a/arch/risc-v/src/qemu-rv/qemu_rv_start.c b/arch/risc-v/src/qemu-rv/qemu_rv_start.c
index 76197354b528e..63d7db565a8e9 100644
--- a/arch/risc-v/src/qemu-rv/qemu_rv_start.c
+++ b/arch/risc-v/src/qemu-rv/qemu_rv_start.c
@@ -100,6 +100,14 @@ static void qemu_rv_copy_data(void)
    * end of all of the other read-only data (.text, .rodata) at _eronly.
    */
 
+  /* Check overlap to avoid copying */
+
+  if (_edata - _sdata + _eronly >= _sdata &&
+      _edata - _sdata + _eronly <= _edata)
+    {
+      return;
+    }
+
   for (src = (const uint32_t *)_eronly,
        dest = (uint32_t *)_sdata; dest < (uint32_t *)_edata;
       )