diff --git a/kpatch-build/create-diff-object.c b/kpatch-build/create-diff-object.c
index 251f420..2ced0a6 100644
--- a/kpatch-build/create-diff-object.c
+++ b/kpatch-build/create-diff-object.c
@@ -982,6 +982,8 @@ void kpatch_reindex_elements(struct kpatch_elf *kelf)
 		sym->index = index++;
 		if (sym->sec)
 			sym->sym.st_shndx = sym->sec->index;
+		else if (sym->sym.st_shndx != SHN_ABS)
+			sym->sym.st_shndx = SHN_UNDEF;
 	}
 }