--- src-old/gas/config/tc-alpha.c	2007-03-21 17:08:14.000000000 +0100
+++ src/gas/config/tc-alpha.c	2007-05-26 18:24:38.000000000 +0200
@@ -1968,7 +1968,8 @@
 	{
 	  reloc_howto_type *reloc_howto
 	    = bfd_reloc_type_lookup (stdoutput, reloc);
-	  if (reloc_howto->bitsize != reloc_operand->bits)
+	  if (NULL == reloc_operand || 
+		reloc_howto->bitsize != reloc_operand->bits)
 	    {
 	      as_bad (_("invalid relocation for field"));
 	      return;