diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
index 71589e9993b..e7df9cc695a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
@@ -230,6 +230,9 @@ pub fn each_linked_rlib(
                 });
             }
         }
+        if info.dependency_formats.is_empty() {
+            return Err(errors::LinkRlibError::MissingFormat);
+        }
         &info.dependency_formats[0].1
     } else {
         let fmts = info