NiosII error with alt_getchar

I am creating an SRAM tester for production and I get the following obscure error:

../sram_test_bsp/libhal_bsp.a(alt_getchar.o) In function `alt_getchar':

make: *** [sram_test.elf] Error 1

I am trying for a small footprint on the executable. I am using the 'small C lib' and reduced driver(s). It seems like a library issue!

any thoughts...