diff --git a/llvm/lib/MC/ELFObjectWriter.cpp b/llvm/lib/MC/ELFObjectWriter.cpp
index cbe0ebf..ac8c250 100644
--- a/llvm/lib/MC/ELFObjectWriter.cpp
+++ b/llvm/lib/MC/ELFObjectWriter.cpp
@@ -539,12 +539,12 @@
   const MCSectionELF &Section =
     static_cast<const MCSectionELF&>(Symbol.getSection());
 
-  if (Section.getFlags() & MCSectionELF::SHF_MERGE)
-    return Target.getConstant() != 0;
-
   if (SD.isExternal())
     return true;
 
+  if (Section.getFlags() & MCSectionELF::SHF_MERGE)
+    return Target.getConstant() != 0;
+
   MCSymbolRefExpr::VariantKind Kind = Target.getSymA()->getKind();
   const MCSectionELF &Sec2 =
     static_cast<const MCSectionELF&>(F.getParent()->getSection());