diff --git a/binutils/ChangeLog b/binutils/ChangeLog
index 19f1c4051a0..eed7d335e11 100644
--- a/binutils/ChangeLog
+++ b/binutils/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2019-11-19  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
+
+	PR 24499
+	* objcopy.c (copy_file): Ignore --add-gnu-debuglink for archives.
+
 2019-11-19  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
 
 	PR 24968
diff --git a/binutils/objcopy.c b/binutils/objcopy.c
index 99cc7beca8f..f682fbeef47 100644
--- a/binutils/objcopy.c
+++ b/binutils/objcopy.c
@@ -3752,6 +3752,14 @@ copy_file (const char *input_filename, const char *output_filename,
 	  status = 1;
 	  return;
 	}
+
+      if (gnu_debuglink_filename != NULL)
+	{
+	  non_fatal (_("--add-gnu-debuglink ignored for archive %s"),
+		     bfd_get_filename (ibfd));
+	  gnu_debuglink_filename = NULL;
+	}
+
       /* This is a no-op on non-Coff targets.  */
       set_long_section_mode (obfd, ibfd, long_section_names);