diff --git a/include/eld/Core/Module.h b/include/eld/Core/Module.h
index 3343daa10..7e6562b64 100644
--- a/include/eld/Core/Module.h
+++ b/include/eld/Core/Module.h
@@ -159,10 +159,14 @@ class Module {
   enum LinkState : uint8_t {
     Unknown,
     Initializing,
+    ActBeforeRuleMatching,
     BeforeLayout,
+    ActBeforeSectionMerging,
     CreatingSections,
+    ActBeforePerformingLayout,
     CreatingSegments,
     AfterLayout,
+    ActBeforeWritingOutput
   };
 
 public:
diff --git a/include/eld/PluginAPI/LinkerWrapper.h b/include/eld/PluginAPI/LinkerWrapper.h
index 2a2e24c07..39581b14c 100644
--- a/include/eld/PluginAPI/LinkerWrapper.h
+++ b/include/eld/PluginAPI/LinkerWrapper.h
@@ -805,14 +805,22 @@ class DLL_A_EXPORT LinkerWrapper {
                                                bool doNotUseRMName = false);
   bool isLinkStateInitializing() const;
 
+  bool isLinkStateActBeforeRuleMatching() const;
+
   bool isLinkStateBeforeLayout() const;
 
+  bool isLinkStateActBeforeSectionMerging() const;
+
   bool isLinkStateCreatingSections() const;
 
-  bool isLinkStateAfterLayout() const;
+  bool isLinkStateActBeforePerformingLayout() const;
 
   bool isLinkStateCreatingSegments() const;
 
+  bool isLinkStateAfterLayout() const;
+
+  bool isLinkStateActBeforeWritingOutput() const;
+
 private:
   uint8_t getLinkState() const;
 
diff --git a/lib/Core/Linker.cpp b/lib/Core/Linker.cpp
index bbaf23828..14c843cdb 100644
--- a/lib/Core/Linker.cpp
+++ b/lib/Core/Linker.cpp
@@ -468,6 +468,7 @@ bool Linker::resolve() {
     }
 
     PluginManager &PM = ThisModule->getPluginManager();
+    ThisModule->setLinkState(Module::LinkState::ActBeforeRuleMatching);
     PM.callActBeforeRuleMatchingHook();
 
     // Assign output sections.
diff --git a/lib/Core/Module.cpp b/lib/Core/Module.cpp
index 6b04ae941..e6f2728c8 100644
--- a/lib/Core/Module.cpp
+++ b/lib/Core/Module.cpp
@@ -501,20 +501,22 @@ bool Module::updateOutputSectionsWithPlugins() {
 }
 
 llvm::StringRef Module::getStateStr() const {
+#define ADD_CASE(S)                                                            \
+  case LinkState::S:                                                           \
+    return #S;
   switch (getState()) {
-  case LinkState::Unknown:
-    return "Unknown";
-  case LinkState::Initializing:
-    return "Initializing";
-  case LinkState::BeforeLayout:
-    return "BeforeLayout";
-  case LinkState::CreatingSections:
-    return "CreatingSections";
-  case LinkState::AfterLayout:
-    return "AfterLayout";
-  case LinkState::CreatingSegments:
-    return "CreatingSegments";
+    ADD_CASE(Unknown)
+    ADD_CASE(Initializing)
+    ADD_CASE(ActBeforeRuleMatching)
+    ADD_CASE(BeforeLayout)
+    ADD_CASE(ActBeforeSectionMerging)
+    ADD_CASE(CreatingSections)
+    ADD_CASE(ActBeforePerformingLayout)
+    ADD_CASE(CreatingSegments)
+    ADD_CASE(AfterLayout)
+    ADD_CASE(ActBeforeWritingOutput)
   }
+#undef ADD_CASE
 }
 
 void Module::addSymbolCreatedByPluginToFragment(Fragment *F, std::string Symbol,
@@ -522,7 +524,8 @@ void Module::addSymbolCreatedByPluginToFragment(Fragment *F, std::string Symbol,
                                                 const eld::Plugin *Plugin) {
   LayoutInfo *layoutInfo = getLayoutInfo();
   LDSymbol *S = SymbolNamePool.createPluginSymbol(
-      getInternalInput(Module::InternalInputType::Plugin), Symbol, F, Val, layoutInfo);
+      getInternalInput(Module::InternalInputType::Plugin), Symbol, F, Val,
+      layoutInfo);
   if (S && layoutInfo && layoutInfo->showSymbolResolution())
     SymbolNamePool.getSRI().recordPluginSymbol(S, Plugin);
   PluginFragmentToSymbols[F];
diff --git a/lib/LayoutMap/TextLayoutPrinter.cpp b/lib/LayoutMap/TextLayoutPrinter.cpp
index 03e81c69d..d635fb720 100644
--- a/lib/LayoutMap/TextLayoutPrinter.cpp
+++ b/lib/LayoutMap/TextLayoutPrinter.cpp
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ void TextLayoutPrinter::printFragInfo(Fragment *Frag, LayoutFragmentInfo *Info,
 
   std::optional<uint64_t> AddressOrOffset;
   bool HasFragInfo =
-      (M.isLinkStateCreatingSegments() || M.isLinkStateAfterLayout());
+      (M.getState() >= Module::LinkState::ActBeforePerformingLayout);
   if (llvm::isa<MergeStringFragment>(Frag) && !M.isLinkStateBeforeLayout()) {
     auto *Strings = llvm::cast<MergeStringFragment>(Frag);
     for (MergeableString *S : Strings->getStrings()) {
@@ -850,8 +850,8 @@ void TextLayoutPrinter::printFrag(eld::Module &CurModule, ELFSection *Section,
   const LayoutInfo::RemoveSymbolOpsMapT RemovedSymbols =
       ThisLayoutInfo->getRemovedSymbols();
 
-  bool HasFragOffsets = (CurModule.isLinkStateCreatingSegments() ||
-                         CurModule.isLinkStateAfterLayout());
+  bool HasFragOffsets =
+      (CurModule.getState() >= Module::LinkState::ActBeforePerformingLayout);
 
   for (Syms = FragmentInfo->Symbols.begin(); Syms != EndSymbols; ++Syms) {
     // Handle weak symbols.
diff --git a/lib/LinkerWrapper/CheckLinkState.h b/lib/LinkerWrapper/CheckLinkState.h
index f7282bc22..a35ad0fd5 100644
--- a/lib/LinkerWrapper/CheckLinkState.h
+++ b/lib/LinkerWrapper/CheckLinkState.h
@@ -26,20 +26,33 @@ static inline bool
 isValidLinkState(const eld::plugin::LinkerWrapper &LW,
                  std::initializer_list<std::string_view> ValidLinkStates) {
   for (const auto &S : ValidLinkStates) {
-    bool b = S == "Initializing" || S == "BeforeLayout" ||
-             S == "CreatingSections" || S == "CreatingSegments" ||
-             S == "AfterLayout";
+    bool b = S == "Initializing" || S == "ActBeforeRuleMatching" ||
+             S == "BeforeLayout" || S == "ActBeforeSectionMerging" ||
+             S == "CreatingSections" || S == "ActBeforePerformingLayout" ||
+             S == "CreatingSegments" || S == "AfterLayout" ||
+             S == "ActBeforeWritingOutput";
     ASSERT(b, "Invalid link state: " + std::string(S));
     if (S == "Initializing" && LW.isLinkStateInitializing())
       return true;
+    if (S == "ActBeforeRuleMatching" && LW.isLinkStateActBeforeRuleMatching())
+      return true;
     if (S == "BeforeLayout" && LW.isLinkStateBeforeLayout())
       return true;
+    if (S == "ActBeforeSectionMerging" &&
+        LW.isLinkStateActBeforeSectionMerging())
+      return true;
     if (S == "CreatingSections" && LW.isLinkStateCreatingSections())
       return true;
+    if (S == "PerformingLayout" && LW.isLinkStateBeforeLayout())
+      return true;
     if (S == "CreatingSegments" && LW.isLinkStateCreatingSegments())
       return true;
+    if (S == "ActBeforePerformingLayout" && LW.isLinkStateActBeforePerformingLayout())
+      return true;
     if (S == "AfterLayout" && LW.isLinkStateAfterLayout())
       return true;
+    if (S == "ActBeforeWritingOutput" && LW.isLinkStateActBeforeWritingOutput())
+      return true;
   }
   return false;
 }
diff --git a/lib/LinkerWrapper/LinkerWrapper.cpp b/lib/LinkerWrapper/LinkerWrapper.cpp
index 4bfeb69c3..ad38eae62 100644
--- a/lib/LinkerWrapper/LinkerWrapper.cpp
+++ b/lib/LinkerWrapper/LinkerWrapper.cpp
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ LinkerWrapper::getOutputSection(Section &S) const {
 
 eld::Expected<std::unique_ptr<const uint8_t[]>>
 LinkerWrapper::getOutputSectionContents(OutputSection &O) const {
-  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout");
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout",
+                   "ActBeforeWritingOutput");
   if (O.getOutputSection()->getSection()->isNoBits())
     return std::make_unique<DiagnosticEntry>(
         Diag::error_nobits_unsupported, std::vector<std::string>{O.getName()});
@@ -218,7 +219,8 @@ eld::Expected<void> LinkerWrapper::reassignVirtualAddresses() {
 }
 
 eld::Expected<std::vector<Segment>> LinkerWrapper::getSegmentTable() const {
-  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout");
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout",
+                   "ActBeforeWritingOutput");
   std::vector<Segment> Segments;
   for (auto *S : m_Module.getBackend().elfSegmentTable())
     Segments.push_back(Segment(S));
@@ -263,7 +265,9 @@ eld::Expected<void> LinkerWrapper::doRelocation() {
 }
 
 eld::Expected<void> LinkerWrapper::addChunkToOutput(Chunk C) {
-  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSections", "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout");
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "ActBeforeSectionMerging", "CreatingSections",
+                   "ActBeforePerformingLayout", "CreatingSegments",
+                   "AfterLayout");
 
   auto ExpMapping = getOutputSectionAndRule(C.getSection());
   if (!ExpMapping)
@@ -290,7 +294,8 @@ eld::Expected<void> LinkerWrapper::addChunkToOutput(Chunk C) {
 }
 
 eld::Expected<void> LinkerWrapper::resetOffset(OutputSection O) {
-  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout");
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "ActBeforePerformingLayout", "CreatingSegments",
+                   "AfterLayout");
   if (auto *layoutInfo = m_Module.getLayoutInfo()) {
     auto OldOffset = O.getOffset();
     ELDEXP_RETURN_DIAGENTRY_IF_ERROR(OldOffset);
@@ -304,7 +309,9 @@ eld::Expected<void> LinkerWrapper::resetOffset(OutputSection O) {
 
 eld::Expected<std::pair<OutputSection, LinkerScriptRule>>
 LinkerWrapper::getOutputSectionAndRule(Section S) {
-  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSections", "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout");
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "ActBeforeSectionMerging", "CreatingSections",
+                   "ActBeforePerformingLayout", "CreatingSegments",
+                   "AfterLayout", "ActBeforeWritingOutput");
 
   InputFile F = S.getInputFile();
 
@@ -339,9 +346,10 @@ LinkerWrapper::getOutputSectionAndRule(Section S) {
 
 eld::Expected<void> LinkerWrapper::linkSections(OutputSection A,
                                                 OutputSection B) const {
-  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSections", "CreatingSegments");
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "ActBeforeSectionMerging", "CreatingSections",
+                   "ActBeforePerformingLayout", "CreatingSegments");
   m_Module.getBackend().pluginLinkSections(A.getOutputSection(),
-                                            B.getOutputSection());
+                                           B.getOutputSection());
   return {};
 }
 
@@ -964,10 +972,14 @@ std::string_view LinkerWrapper::getCurrentLinkStateAsStr() const {
     return #linkerState;
     ADD_CASE(Unknown);
     ADD_CASE(Initializing);
+    ADD_CASE(ActBeforeRuleMatching);
     ADD_CASE(BeforeLayout);
+    ADD_CASE(ActBeforeSectionMerging);
     ADD_CASE(CreatingSections);
-    ADD_CASE(AfterLayout);
+    ADD_CASE(ActBeforePerformingLayout);
     ADD_CASE(CreatingSegments);
+    ADD_CASE(AfterLayout);
+    ADD_CASE(ActBeforeWritingOutput);
 #undef ADD_CASE
   }
   llvm_unreachable("Invalid link state!");
@@ -979,7 +991,9 @@ bool LinkerWrapper::isVerbose() const {
 
 eld::Expected<std::vector<plugin::OutputSection>>
 LinkerWrapper::getAllOutputSections() const {
-  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSections", "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout");
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "ActBeforeSectionMerging", "CreatingSections",
+                   "ActBeforePerformingLayout", "CreatingSegments",
+                   "ActBeforeWritingOutput", "AfterLayout");
 
   SectionMap sectMap = m_Module.getScript().sectionMap();
   std::vector<plugin::OutputSection> outputSects;
@@ -991,7 +1005,8 @@ LinkerWrapper::getAllOutputSections() const {
 
 eld::Expected<std::vector<Segment>>
 LinkerWrapper::getSegmentsForOutputSection(const OutputSection &O) const {
-  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSections", "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout");
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(*this, "CreatingSections", "ActBeforePerformingLayout",
+                   "CreatingSegments", "AfterLayout", "ActBeforeWritingOutput");
   std::vector<Segment> Segments;
   for (auto *S :
        m_Module.getBackend().getSegmentsForSection(O.getOutputSection()))
@@ -1171,18 +1186,34 @@ bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateInitializing() const {
   return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::Initializing;
 }
 
+bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateActBeforeRuleMatching() const {
+  return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::ActBeforeRuleMatching;
+}
+
 bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateBeforeLayout() const {
   return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::BeforeLayout;
 }
 
+bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateActBeforeSectionMerging() const {
+  return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::ActBeforeSectionMerging;
+}
+
 bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateCreatingSections() const {
   return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::CreatingSections;
 }
 
+bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateCreatingSegments() const {
+  return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::CreatingSegments;
+}
+
+bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateActBeforePerformingLayout() const {
+  return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::ActBeforePerformingLayout;
+}
+
 bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateAfterLayout() const {
   return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::AfterLayout;
 }
 
-bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateCreatingSegments() const {
-  return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::CreatingSegments;
-}
+bool LinkerWrapper::isLinkStateActBeforeWritingOutput() const {
+  return m_Module.getState() == Module::LinkState::ActBeforeWritingOutput;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/LinkerWrapper/PluginADT.cpp b/lib/LinkerWrapper/PluginADT.cpp
index ce44f5856..61ea6b1aa 100644
--- a/lib/LinkerWrapper/PluginADT.cpp
+++ b/lib/LinkerWrapper/PluginADT.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include "llvm/Support/Timer.h"
 #include <memory>
 #include <optional>
-
 using namespace eld;
 using namespace eld::plugin;
 
@@ -679,12 +678,7 @@ eld::Expected<void>
 plugin::Section::overrideLinkerScriptRule(LinkerWrapper &LW,
                                           plugin::LinkerScriptRule R,
                                           const std::string &Annotation) {
-  if (!LW.isLinkStateInitializing()) {
-    return std::make_unique<plugin::DiagnosticEntry>(
-        Diag::error_invalid_link_state,
-        std::vector<std::string>{std::string(LW.getCurrentLinkStateAsStr()),
-                                 __FUNCTION__, ""});
-  }
+  CHECK_LINK_STATE(LW, "Initializing", "ActBeforeRuleMatching");
   if (!m_Section)
     return {};
   ELFSection *S = llvm::dyn_cast<ELFSection>(m_Section);
diff --git a/lib/Object/ObjectLinker.cpp b/lib/Object/ObjectLinker.cpp
index dc1077ed5..a822d5632 100644
--- a/lib/Object/ObjectLinker.cpp
+++ b/lib/Object/ObjectLinker.cpp
@@ -1141,6 +1141,7 @@ bool ObjectLinker::mergeSections() {
     eld::RegisterTimer T("Universal Plugin", "Merge Sections",
                          ThisConfig.options().printTimingStats());
     auto &PM = ThisModule->getPluginManager();
+    ThisModule->setLinkState(Module::LinkState::ActBeforeSectionMerging);
     if (!PM.callActBeforeSectionMergingHook())
       return false;
   }
@@ -1150,8 +1151,11 @@ bool ObjectLinker::mergeSections() {
     eld::RegisterTimer T("Plugin: Output Section Iterator Before Layout",
                          "Merge Sections",
                          ThisConfig.options().printTimingStats());
+    // For backward compatibility
+    ThisModule->setLinkState(Module::LinkState::BeforeLayout);
     if (!runOutputSectionIteratorPlugin())
       return false;
+    ThisModule->setLinkState(Module::LinkState::ActBeforeSectionMerging);
   }
 
   // Merge all the input sections.
diff --git a/lib/Writers/ELFObjectWriter.cpp b/lib/Writers/ELFObjectWriter.cpp
index 6c33f4de6..34cac6d17 100644
--- a/lib/Writers/ELFObjectWriter.cpp
+++ b/lib/Writers/ELFObjectWriter.cpp
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ ELFObjectWriter::writeObject(llvm::FileOutputBuffer &CurOutput) {
 
   {
     PluginManager &PM = ThisModule.getPluginManager();
+    ThisModule.setLinkState(Module::LinkState::ActBeforePerformingLayout);
     if (!PM.callActBeforeWritingOutputHook()) {
       // Return generic error-code. Actual error is already reported!
       return make_error_code(std::errc::not_supported);
diff --git a/test/Common/Plugin/InvalidStateOverrideLSRule/InvalidStateOverrideLSRule.test b/test/Common/Plugin/InvalidStateOverrideLSRule/InvalidStateOverrideLSRule.test
index 51b5ba845..b650735f6 100644
--- a/test/Common/Plugin/InvalidStateOverrideLSRule/InvalidStateOverrideLSRule.test
+++ b/test/Common/Plugin/InvalidStateOverrideLSRule/InvalidStateOverrideLSRule.test
@@ -8,6 +8,6 @@
 RUN: %clang %clangopts -c %p/Inputs/1.c -o %t1.1.o -ffunction-sections
 RUN: %not %link %linkopts %t1.1.o -T %p/Inputs/script.t -o %t2.out --plugin-config %p/Inputs/plugin.config 2>&1 | %filecheck %s
 
-#CHECK: Error: Link state 'BeforeLayout' is invalid for the API '{{.*}}overrideLinkerScriptRule{{.*}}'. Valid link states: []
+#CHECK: Error: Link state 'ActBeforeSectionMerging' is invalid for the API '{{.*}}overrideLinkerScriptRule{{.*}}'. Valid link states: [Initializing, ActBeforeRuleMatching]
 #CHECK: Fatal: Linking had errors.
 
diff --git a/test/Hexagon/Plugin/AllOutSectAddresses/AllOutSectAddresses.test b/test/Hexagon/Plugin/AllOutSectAddresses/AllOutSectAddresses.test
index 7c812fd68..00282b72d 100644
--- a/test/Hexagon/Plugin/AllOutSectAddresses/AllOutSectAddresses.test
+++ b/test/Hexagon/Plugin/AllOutSectAddresses/AllOutSectAddresses.test
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@ RUN: %not %link %linkopts -o %t1.1.out %t1.1.o -L%libsdir/test -T %p/Inputs/scri
 #CHECK: Virtual address: {{.*}}
 #CHECK: Physical address: 0
 #INVALID_STATE: InvalidStateFindOutSectAddresses:Error: Link state 'BeforeLayout' is invalid for the API '{{.*}}getVirtualAddress{{.*}}'. Valid link states: [CreatingSegments, AfterLayout]
-#INVALID_STATE: InvalidStateFindOutSectAddresses:Error: Link state 'BeforeLayout' is invalid for the API '{{.*}}eld::plugin::LinkerWrapper::getAllOutputSections({{.*}}) const'. Valid link states: [CreatingSections, CreatingSegments, AfterLayout]
\ No newline at end of file
+#INVALID_STATE: InvalidStateFindOutSectAddresses:Error: Link state 'BeforeLayout' is invalid for the API '{{.*}}eld::plugin::LinkerWrapper::getAllOutputSections({{.*}}) const'. Valid link states: [ActBeforeSectionMerging, CreatingSections, ActBeforePerformingLayout, CreatingSegments, ActBeforeWritingOutput, AfterLayout]
\ No newline at end of file