diff --git a/module/system/vm/assembler.scm b/module/system/vm/assembler.scm
index 8868343d7..93cbb4d70 100644
--- a/module/system/vm/assembler.scm
+++ b/module/system/vm/assembler.scm
@@ -2007,7 +2007,7 @@ should be .data or .rodata), and return the resulting linker object.
                 (write-constant-reference buf pos elt)
                 (lp (1+ i)))))))
 
-       ((symbol? obj)
+       ((and (symbol? obj) (symbol-interned? obj))
         (write-placeholder asm buf pos))
 
        ((keyword? obj)