diff --git a/external/gpl3/gdb/dist/bfd/merge.c b/external/gpl3/gdb/dist/bfd/merge.c
index 174ec90bff2a..28f15037a30b 100644
--- a/external/gpl3/gdb/dist/bfd/merge.c
+++ b/external/gpl3/gdb/dist/bfd/merge.c
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ sec_merge_emit (bfd *abfd, struct sec_merge_hash_entry *entry,
 
   /* Trailing alignment needed?  */
   off = sec->size - off;
-  if (off != 0)
+  if (pad != NULL && off != 0)
     {
       if (contents)
 	memcpy (contents + offset, pad, off);