diff --git a/binutils/ChangeLog b/binutils/ChangeLog
index e6c9c2ea8a..a30d38d4ae 100644
--- a/binutils/ChangeLog
+++ b/binutils/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2020-04-15  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
+
+	* readelf.c (process_symbol_table): Zero gnubuckets, gnuchains
+	etc. after freeing.
+
 2020-04-15  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
 
 	* readelf.c (get_group_flags): Translate text.
diff --git a/binutils/readelf.c b/binutils/readelf.c
index fb6f801b9f..80af9a242a 100644
--- a/binutils/readelf.c
+++ b/binutils/readelf.c
@@ -12260,16 +12260,24 @@ process_symbol_table (Filedata * filedata)
       free (lengths);
     }
   free (gnubuckets);
+  gnubuckets = NULL;
   free (gnuchains);
+  gnuchains = NULL;
   free (mipsxlat);
+  mipsxlat = NULL;
   return TRUE;
 
  err_out:
   free (gnubuckets);
+  gnubuckets = NULL;
   free (gnuchains);
+  gnuchains = NULL;
   free (mipsxlat);
+  mipsxlat = NULL;
   free (buckets);
+  buckets = NULL;
   free (chains);
+  chains = NULL;
   return FALSE;
 }