diff --git a/bfd/section.c b/bfd/section.c
index 04f439e..6e262e8 100644
--- a/bfd/section.c
+++ b/bfd/section.c
@@ -1010,7 +1010,7 @@ bfd_make_section (abfd, name)
   if (newsect->name != NULL)
     {
       /* Section already exists.  */
-      return newsect;
+      return NULL;
     }
 
   newsect->name = name;