diff --git a/bfd/elflink.c b/bfd/elflink.c
index 0a0456177c2..5c8b822e36a 100644
--- a/bfd/elflink.c
+++ b/bfd/elflink.c
@@ -5096,13 +5096,6 @@ elf_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
       if (name == NULL)
 	goto error_free_vers;
 
-      if (name[0] == '\0')
-	{
-	  _bfd_error_handler (_("%pB: corrupt symbol table"), abfd);
-	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_bad_value);
-	  goto error_free_vers;
-	}
-
       if (isym->st_shndx == SHN_COMMON
 	  && (abfd->flags & BFD_PLUGIN) != 0)
 	{
@@ -5146,6 +5139,13 @@ elf_link_add_object_symbols (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	    continue;
 	}
 
+      if (name[0] == '\0')
+	{
+	  _bfd_error_handler (_("%pB: corrupt symbol table"), abfd);
+	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_bad_value);
+	  goto error_free_vers;
+	}
+
       /* Sanity check that all possibilities were handled.  */
       if (sec == NULL)
 	abort ();