Backported patch originally targeted against 2.45.
--- a/bfd/elflink.c
+++ b/bfd/elflink.c
@@ -14356,5 +14356,6 @@ elf_gc_sweep (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
	  if (o->flags & SEC_GROUP)
	    {
	      asection *first = elf_next_in_group (o);
-	      o->gc_mark = first->gc_mark;
+	      if (first != NULL)
+	        o->gc_mark = first->gc_mark;
	    }

	  if (o->gc_mark)