diff --git a/tools/objtool/elf.c b/tools/objtool/elf.c
index 5aa3b4e76479..a2ea3931e01d 100644
--- a/tools/objtool/elf.c
+++ b/tools/objtool/elf.c
@@ -578,6 +578,11 @@ static int elf_update_symbol(struct elf *elf, struct section *symtab,
 	Elf64_Xword entsize = symtab->sh.sh_entsize;
 	int max_idx, idx = sym->idx;
 	Elf_Scn *s, *t = NULL;
+	bool is_special_shndx = sym->sym.st_shndx >= SHN_LORESERVE &&
+				sym->sym.st_shndx != SHN_XINDEX;
+
+	if (is_special_shndx)
+		shndx = sym->sym.st_shndx;
 
 	s = elf_getscn(elf->elf, symtab->idx);
 	if (!s) {
@@ -663,7 +668,7 @@ static int elf_update_symbol(struct elf *elf, struct section *symtab,
 	}
 
 	/* setup extended section index magic and write the symbol */
-	if (shndx >= SHN_UNDEF && shndx < SHN_LORESERVE) {
+	if ((shndx >= SHN_UNDEF && shndx < SHN_LORESERVE) || is_special_shndx) {
 		sym->sym.st_shndx = shndx;
 		if (!shndx_data)
 			shndx = 0;