diff --git a/util/grub-mkimagexx.c b/util/grub-mkimagexx.c
index 0a1ac9e51..3c76d0708 100644
--- a/util/grub-mkimagexx.c
+++ b/util/grub-mkimagexx.c
@@ -1539,6 +1539,8 @@ SUFFIX (load_image) (const char *kernel_path, size_t *exec_size,
 	    symtab_section = s;
 	    break;
 	  }
+      if (! symtab_section)
+	grub_util_error ("%s", _("no symbol table"));
 
 #ifdef MKIMAGE_ELF32
       if (image_target->elf_target == EM_ARM)
@@ -1577,8 +1579,6 @@ SUFFIX (load_image) (const char *kernel_path, size_t *exec_size,
 	}
 #endif
 
-      if (! symtab_section)
-	grub_util_error ("%s", _("no symbol table"));
     }
   else
     {