diff --git a/lld/ELF/Symbols.cpp b/lld/ELF/Symbols.cpp
index 7707d3d583c5..62906be84c76 100644
--- a/lld/ELF/Symbols.cpp
+++ b/lld/ELF/Symbols.cpp
@@ -58,10 +58,21 @@ static typename ELFT::uint getSymVA(const SymbolBody &Body, int64_t &Addend) {
       return D.Value;
 
     uintX_t Offset = D.Value;
+
+    // An object in an SHF_MERGE section might be referenced via a
+    // section symbol (as a hack for reducing the number of local
+    // symbols).
+    // We must incorporate the addend into the section offset (and
+    // zero out the addend for later processing) so that we find the
+    // right object in the section.
+    // Note that for an ordinary symbol we do not perform this
+    // adjustment and thus effectively assume that the addend cannot
+    // cross the boundaries of mergeable objects.
     if (D.isSection()) {
       Offset += Addend;
       Addend = 0;
     }
+
     const OutputSection *OutSec = IS->getOutputSection<ELFT>();
     uintX_t VA = (OutSec ? OutSec->Addr : 0) + IS->getOffset<ELFT>(Offset);
     if (D.isTls() && !Config->Relocatable) {