diff --git a/bfd/ChangeLog b/bfd/ChangeLog
index 26c7a6cd68..b46eb9c4e3 100644
--- a/bfd/ChangeLog
+++ b/bfd/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2012-04-24  Hans-Peter Nilsson  <hp@axis.com>
+
+	PR ld/13990
+	* elf32-arm.c (elf32_arm_gc_sweep_hook): Handle a forced-local
+	symbol, where PLT refcount is set to -1.
+
 2012-04-24  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
 
 	PR ld/13991
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-arm.c b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
index 629e1f21cf..9560906daa 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-arm.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-arm.c
@@ -12256,8 +12256,19 @@ elf32_arm_gc_sweep_hook (bfd *                     abfd,
       if (may_need_local_target_p
 	  && elf32_arm_get_plt_info (abfd, eh, r_symndx, &root_plt, &arm_plt))
 	{
-	  BFD_ASSERT (root_plt->refcount > 0);
-	  root_plt->refcount -= 1;
+	  /* If PLT refcount book-keeping is wrong and too low, we'll
+	     see a zero value (going to -1) for the root PLT reference
+	     count.  */
+	  if (root_plt->refcount >= 0)
+	    {
+	      BFD_ASSERT (root_plt->refcount != 0);
+	      root_plt->refcount -= 1;
+	    }
+	  else
+	    /* A value of -1 means the symbol has become local, forced
+	       or seeing a hidden definition.  Any other negative value
+	       is an error.  */
+	    BFD_ASSERT (root_plt->refcount == -1);
 
 	  if (!call_reloc_p)
 	    arm_plt->noncall_refcount--;