diff --git a/debugtools/DDR_VM/src/com/ibm/j9ddr/corereaders/elf/ELFFileReader.java b/debugtools/DDR_VM/src/com/ibm/j9ddr/corereaders/elf/ELFFileReader.java
index b71ed659fa8..da8b176fd54 100644
--- a/debugtools/DDR_VM/src/com/ibm/j9ddr/corereaders/elf/ELFFileReader.java
+++ b/debugtools/DDR_VM/src/com/ibm/j9ddr/corereaders/elf/ELFFileReader.java
@@ -801,6 +801,9 @@ private void markTruncated() {
 	 */
 	public String readSONAME(ELFFileReader coreFileReader) {
 		ProgramHeaderEntry dynamicTableEntry = getDynamicTableEntry();
+		if (dynamicTableEntry == null) {
+			return null;
+		}
 		try {
 			long imageStart = dynamicTableEntry.virtualAddress;