diff --git a/bfd/syms.c b/bfd/syms.c
index 6979096fbc6..d756995d767 100644
--- a/bfd/syms.c
+++ b/bfd/syms.c
@@ -1106,7 +1106,7 @@ _bfd_stab_section_find_nearest_line (bfd *abfd,
 		  || r->howto->pc_relative
 		  || r->howto->bitpos != 0
 		  || r->howto->dst_mask != 0xffffffff
-		  || octets + 4 > stabsize)
+		  || octets > stabsize - 4)
 		{
 		  _bfd_error_handler
 		    (_("unsupported .stab relocation"));