diff --git a/binutils/ChangeLog b/binutils/ChangeLog
index 9dfaf2b8f2..a91b99b4e7 100644
--- a/binutils/ChangeLog
+++ b/binutils/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 2016-06-02  Nick Clifton  <nickc@redhat.com>
 
+	PR 20089
+	* objcopy.c (group_signature): Fail if the input symbol table has
+	not been loaded.
+
 	* dwarf.c (display_debug_frames): Do not display any
 	interpretation if the block consists solely of DW__CFA_NOPs.
 
diff --git a/binutils/objcopy.c b/binutils/objcopy.c
index 94267616ca..98332cd3dc 100644
--- a/binutils/objcopy.c
+++ b/binutils/objcopy.c
@@ -1125,6 +1125,10 @@ group_signature (asection *group)
   bfd *abfd = group->owner;
   Elf_Internal_Shdr *ghdr;
 
+  /* PR 20089: An earlier error may have prevented us from loading the symbol table.  */
+  if (isympp == NULL)
+    return NULL;
+
   if (bfd_get_flavour (abfd) != bfd_target_elf_flavour)
     return NULL;