diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index 5941eeb010b..380d64d699d 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -7985,7 +7985,7 @@ _bfd_elf_fixup_group_sections (bfd *ibfd, asection *discarded)
 		    isec->flags |= SEC_EXCLUDE;
 		  }
 	      }
-	    else
+	    else if (isec->output_section != NULL)
 	      {
 		/* Adjust the output section size when called from
 		   objcopy. */