diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/base/print.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/base/print.go
index 6831b3ada31..ac7333ca4e0 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/base/print.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/base/print.go
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ func (x byPos) Swap(i, j int)      { x[i], x[j] = x[j], x[i] }
 // FlushErrors sorts errors seen so far by line number, prints them to stdout,
 // and empties the errors array.
 func FlushErrors() {
-	Ctxt.Bso.Flush()
+	if Ctxt != nil && Ctxt.Bso != nil {
+		Ctxt.Bso.Flush()
+	}
 	if len(errorMsgs) == 0 {
 		return
 	}