diff --git a/compiler/gen_wasm/src/backend.rs b/compiler/gen_wasm/src/backend.rs
index 854531f78a..24a3b9c301 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_wasm/src/backend.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen_wasm/src/backend.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use crate::wasm_module::linking::{
 };
 use crate::wasm_module::sections::{
     CodeSection, DataMode, DataSection, DataSegment, ExportSection, FunctionSection, GlobalSection,
-    Import, ImportDesc, ImportSection, MemorySection, TypeSection, WasmModule,
+    Import, ImportDesc, ImportSection, MemorySection, OpaqueSection, TypeSection, WasmModule,
 };
 use crate::wasm_module::{
     code_builder, CodeBuilder, ConstExpr, Export, ExportType, Global, GlobalType, LocalId,
@@ -109,14 +109,14 @@ impl<'a> WasmBackend<'a> {
             types: TypeSection::new(arena, num_procs),
             import: ImportSection::new(arena),
             function: FunctionSection::new(arena, num_procs),
-            table: (),
+            table: OpaqueSection::default(),
             memory: MemorySection::new(MEMORY_INIT_SIZE),
             global: GlobalSection {
                 entries: bumpalo::vec![in arena; stack_pointer],
             },
             export: ExportSection { entries: exports },
-            start: (),
-            element: (),
+            start: OpaqueSection::default(),
+            element: OpaqueSection::default(),
             code: CodeSection {
                 preloaded_count: 0,
                 preloaded_bytes: Vec::with_capacity_in(0, arena),
diff --git a/compiler/gen_wasm/src/wasm_module/sections.rs b/compiler/gen_wasm/src/wasm_module/sections.rs
index 9823f3c144..bc8b5dc363 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_wasm/src/wasm_module/sections.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen_wasm/src/wasm_module/sections.rs
@@ -627,20 +627,44 @@ impl SectionCounter {
     }
 }
 
+/// A Wasm module section that we don't use for Roc code,
+/// but may be present in a preloaded binary
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct OpaqueSection<'a> {
+    bytes: &'a [u8],
+}
+
+impl<'a> OpaqueSection<'a> {
+    pub fn new(bytes: &'a [u8]) -> Self {
+        Self { bytes }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> Default for OpaqueSection<'a> {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self { bytes: &[] }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Serialize for OpaqueSection<'_> {
+    fn serialize<T: SerialBuffer>(&self, buffer: &mut T) {
+        if !self.bytes.is_empty() {
+            buffer.append_slice(&self.bytes);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct WasmModule<'a> {
     pub types: TypeSection<'a>,
     pub import: ImportSection<'a>,
     pub function: FunctionSection<'a>,
-    /// Dummy placeholder for tables (used for function pointers and host references)
-    pub table: (),
+    pub table: OpaqueSection<'a>,
     pub memory: MemorySection,
     pub global: GlobalSection<'a>,
     pub export: ExportSection<'a>,
-    /// Dummy placeholder for start function. In Roc, this would be part of the platform.
-    pub start: (),
-    /// Dummy placeholder for table elements. Roc does not use tables.
-    pub element: (),
+    pub start: OpaqueSection<'a>,
+    pub element: OpaqueSection<'a>,
     pub code: CodeSection<'a>,
     pub data: DataSection<'a>,
     pub linking: LinkingSection<'a>,