diff --git a/src/debug/elf/file.go b/src/debug/elf/file.go
index f37d4b8e9add35..aff2b00aae3bcf 100644
--- a/src/debug/elf/file.go
+++ b/src/debug/elf/file.go
@@ -474,7 +474,16 @@ func NewFile(r io.ReaderAt) (*File, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Load section header string table.
-	shstrtab, err := f.Sections[shstrndx].Data()
+	if shstrndx == 0 {
+		// If the file has no section name string table,
+		// shstrndx holds the value SHN_UNDEF (0).
+		return f, nil
+	}
+	shstr := f.Sections[shstrndx]
+	if shstr.Type != SHT_STRTAB {
+		return nil, &FormatError{shoff + int64(shstrndx*shentsize), "invalid ELF section name string table type", shstr.Type}
+	}
+	shstrtab, err := shstr.Data()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}