diff --git a/gdb/dwarf2/line-header.c b/gdb/dwarf2/line-header.c
index 9597f0930e3..3d2563eeb39 100644
--- a/gdb/dwarf2/line-header.c
+++ b/gdb/dwarf2/line-header.c
@@ -351,13 +351,20 @@ dwarf_decode_line_header (sect_offset sect_off, bool is_dwz,
   line_ptr += 1;
   lh->opcode_base = read_1_byte (abfd, line_ptr);
   line_ptr += 1;
-  lh->standard_opcode_lengths.reset (new unsigned char[lh->opcode_base]);
-
-  lh->standard_opcode_lengths[0] = 1;  /* This should never be used anyway.  */
-  for (i = 1; i < lh->opcode_base; ++i)
+  if (lh->opcode_base > 0)
     {
-      lh->standard_opcode_lengths[i] = read_1_byte (abfd, line_ptr);
-      line_ptr += 1;
+      lh->standard_opcode_lengths.reset (new unsigned char[lh->opcode_base]);
+
+      /* The first element should never be used, because there's no standard
+	 opcode encoded as 0.  Give it some defined value.  */
+      lh->standard_opcode_lengths[0] = 1;
+
+      /* Read the standard_opcode_lengths array.  */
+      for (i = 1; i < lh->opcode_base; ++i)
+	{
+	  lh->standard_opcode_lengths[i] = read_1_byte (abfd, line_ptr);
+	  line_ptr += 1;
+	}
     }
 
   if (lh->version >= 5)