diff --git a/src/cmd/6l/asm.c b/src/cmd/6l/asm.c
index 1502ad6602..8cd256ca92 100644
--- a/src/cmd/6l/asm.c
+++ b/src/cmd/6l/asm.c
@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ addstring(Sym *s, char *str)
 	s->reachable = 1;
 	r = s->size;
 	n = strlen(str)+1;
-	elfsetstring(str, r);
+	if(strcmp(s->name, ".shstrtab") == 0)
+		elfsetstring(str, r);
 	while(n > 0) {
 		m = n;
 		if(m > sizeof(p->to.scon))
diff --git a/src/cmd/8l/asm.c b/src/cmd/8l/asm.c
index ec35d8d519..1dd24b5bea 100644
--- a/src/cmd/8l/asm.c
+++ b/src/cmd/8l/asm.c
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ addstring(Sym *s, char *str)
 	s->reachable = 1;
 	r = s->size;
 	n = strlen(str)+1;
-	elfsetstring(str, r);
+	if(strcmp(s->name, ".shstrtab") == 0)
+		elfsetstring(str, r);
 	while(n > 0) {
 		m = n;
 		if(m > sizeof(p->to.scon))