diff --git a/binutils/bfd/coff-rs6000.c b/binutils/bfd/coff-rs6000.c
index fea5f3bc5e..983311a317 100644
--- a/binutils/bfd/coff-rs6000.c
+++ b/binutils/bfd/coff-rs6000.c
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ _bfd_xcoff_copy_private_bfd_data (bfd *ibfd, bfd *obfd)
   else
     {
       sec = coff_section_from_bfd_index (ibfd, ix->sntoc);
-      if (sec == NULL)
+      if (sec == NULL || sec->output_section == NULL)
 	ox->sntoc = 0;
       else
 	ox->sntoc = sec->output_section->target_index;