diff -rup binutils.orig/bfd/elf64-sparc.c binutils-2.29.1/bfd/elf64-sparc.c
--- binutils.orig/bfd/elf64-sparc.c	2017-12-07 17:23:06.764174312 +0000
+++ binutils-2.29.1/bfd/elf64-sparc.c	2017-12-07 17:23:20.540009839 +0000
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ elf64_sparc_set_reloc (bfd *abfd ATTRIBU
                        unsigned int count)
 {
   asect->orelocation = location;
+  asect->reloc_count = count / 2;
   canon_reloc_count (asect) = count;
 }
 
Only in binutils-2.29.1/bfd: elf64-sparc.c.orig
diff -rup binutils.orig/bfd/elfcode.h binutils-2.29.1/bfd/elfcode.h
--- binutils.orig/bfd/elfcode.h	2017-12-07 17:23:06.722174814 +0000
+++ binutils-2.29.1/bfd/elfcode.h	2017-12-07 17:23:20.541009827 +0000
@@ -958,6 +958,12 @@ elf_write_relocs (bfd *abfd, asection *s
 	  return;
 	}
 
+      if (ptr->howto == NULL)
+	{
+	  *failedp = TRUE;
+	  return;
+	}
+
       src_rela.r_offset = ptr->address + addr_offset;
       src_rela.r_info = ELF_R_INFO (n, ptr->howto->type);
       src_rela.r_addend = ptr->addend;
diff -rup binutils.orig/binutils/objcopy.c binutils-2.29.1/binutils/objcopy.c
--- binutils.orig/binutils/objcopy.c	2017-12-07 17:23:06.769174253 +0000
+++ binutils-2.29.1/binutils/objcopy.c	2017-12-07 17:23:20.542009815 +0000
@@ -3785,14 +3785,24 @@ copy_relocations_in_section (bfd *ibfd,
     }
   else
     {
-      relpp = (arelent **) xmalloc (relsize);
-      relcount = bfd_canonicalize_reloc (ibfd, isection, relpp, isympp);
-      if (relcount < 0)
+      if (isection->orelocation != NULL)
 	{
-	  status = 1;
-	  bfd_nonfatal_message (NULL, ibfd, isection,
-				_("relocation count is negative"));
-	  return;
+	  /* Some other function has already set up the output relocs
+	     for us, so scan those instead of the default relocs.  */
+	  relcount = isection->reloc_count;
+	  relpp = isection->orelocation;
+	}
+      else
+	{
+	  relpp = (arelent **) xmalloc (relsize);
+	  relcount = bfd_canonicalize_reloc (ibfd, isection, relpp, isympp);
+	  if (relcount < 0)
+	    {
+	      status = 1;
+	      bfd_nonfatal_message (NULL, ibfd, isection,
+				    _("relocation count is negative"));
+	      return;
+	    }
 	}
 
       if (strip_symbols == STRIP_ALL)
@@ -3815,7 +3825,8 @@ copy_relocations_in_section (bfd *ibfd,
 		  temp_relpp [temp_relcount++] = relpp [i];
 	    }
 	  relcount = temp_relcount;
-	  free (relpp);
+	  if (isection->orelocation == NULL)
+	    free (relpp);
 	  relpp = temp_relpp;
 	}