--- binutils.orig/bfd/linker.c	2021-10-13 13:21:03.125429867 +0100
+++ binutils-2.37/bfd/linker.c	2021-10-13 13:33:31.328554905 +0100
@@ -1420,6 +1420,7 @@ _bfd_generic_link_add_one_symbol (struct
     {
       row = COMMON_ROW;
       if (!bfd_link_relocatable (info)
+	  && name != NULL
 	  && name[0] == '_'
 	  && name[1] == '_'
 	  && strcmp (name + (name[2] == '_'), "__gnu_lto_slim") == 0)
@@ -1682,7 +1683,7 @@ _bfd_generic_link_add_one_symbol (struct
 	      cycle = true;
 	      break;
 	    }
-	  if (strcmp (h->u.i.link->root.string, string) == 0)
+	  if (string != NULL && strcmp (h->u.i.link->root.string, string) == 0)
 	    break;
 	  /* Fall through.  */
 	case MDEF: