diff --git a/gas/ChangeLog b/gas/ChangeLog
index 640fee13c8..ec211534c9 100644
--- a/gas/ChangeLog
+++ b/gas/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2019-05-06  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
+
+	* symbols.c (symbol_relc_make_sym): Do not access sym->sy_value
+	directly.
+
 2019-05-06  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
 
 	* config/tc-ppc.c (ppc_fix_adjustable): Exclude all GOT and PLT
diff --git a/gas/symbols.c b/gas/symbols.c
index 97867954fd..10d7b1c273 100644
--- a/gas/symbols.c
+++ b/gas/symbols.c
@@ -3288,7 +3288,7 @@ symbol_relc_make_sym (symbolS * sym)
      is defined as an expression or a plain value.  */
   if (   S_GET_SEGMENT (sym) == expr_section
       || S_GET_SEGMENT (sym) == absolute_section)
-    return symbol_relc_make_expr (& sym->sy_value);
+    return symbol_relc_make_expr (symbol_get_value_expression (sym));
 
   /* This may be a "fake symbol", referring to ".".
      Write out a special null symbol to refer to this position.  */