diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index 027d0143735..185028cbd97 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -9030,6 +9030,9 @@ _bfd_elf_slurp_version_tables (bfd *abfd, bool default_imported_symver)
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
 	  goto error_return_verdef;
 	}
+
+      if (amt == 0)
+	goto error_return_verdef;
       elf_tdata (abfd)->verdef = (Elf_Internal_Verdef *) bfd_zalloc (abfd, amt);
       if (elf_tdata (abfd)->verdef == NULL)
 	goto error_return_verdef;
@@ -9133,6 +9136,8 @@ _bfd_elf_slurp_version_tables (bfd *abfd, bool default_imported_symver)
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
 	  goto error_return;
 	}
+      if (amt == 0)
+	goto error_return;
       elf_tdata (abfd)->verdef = (Elf_Internal_Verdef *) bfd_zalloc (abfd, amt);
       if (elf_tdata (abfd)->verdef == NULL)
 	goto error_return;