diff --git a/bfd/linker.c b/bfd/linker.c
index e9ebdbad040..0c2e3c10a67 100644
--- a/bfd/linker.c
+++ b/bfd/linker.c
@@ -599,7 +599,8 @@ bfd_wrapped_link_hash_lookup (bfd *abfd,
 	  n[1] = '\0';
 	  strcat (n, l + sizeof REAL - 1);
 	  h = bfd_link_hash_lookup (info->hash, n, create, true, follow);
-	  h->ref_real = 1;
+	  if (h != NULL)
+	    h->ref_real = 1;
 	  free (n);
 	  return h;
 	}