diff --git a/tools/objtool/check.c b/tools/objtool/check.c
index 5824aa68ff96..36412f1881e6 100644
--- a/tools/objtool/check.c
+++ b/tools/objtool/check.c
@@ -4089,7 +4089,7 @@ static bool ignore_unreachable_insn(struct objtool_file *file, struct instructio
 	 * It may also insert a UD2 after calling a __noreturn function.
 	 */
 	prev_insn = prev_insn_same_sec(file, insn);
-	if (prev_insn->dead_end &&
+	if (prev_insn && prev_insn->dead_end &&
 	    (insn->type == INSN_BUG ||
 	     (insn->type == INSN_JUMP_UNCONDITIONAL &&
 	      insn->jump_dest && insn->jump_dest->type == INSN_BUG)))