diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index 952e4bfe11b..1683cd020d6 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ SECTION
 #include "bfd.h"
 #include "bfdlink.h"
 #include "libbfd.h"
+#include <limits.h>
 #define ARCH_SIZE 0
 #include "elf-bfd.h"
 #include "libiberty.h"
@@ -595,7 +596,8 @@ group_signature (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Shdr *ghdr)
 static bfd_boolean
 setup_group (bfd *abfd, Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr, asection *newsect)
 {
-  unsigned int num_group = elf_tdata (abfd)->num_group;
+  unsigned int num_group = UINT_MAX;
+  elf_tdata (abfd)->num_group = num_group;
 
   /* If num_group is zero, read in all SHT_GROUP sections.  The count
      is set to -1 if there are no SHT_GROUP sections.  */