diff --git a/src/cmd/asm/main.go b/src/cmd/asm/main.go
index a927de854b..9ca9797a45 100644
--- a/src/cmd/asm/main.go
+++ b/src/cmd/asm/main.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func main() {
 	ctxt.Flag_dynlink = *flags.Dynlink
 	ctxt.Flag_shared = *flags.Shared || *flags.Dynlink
 	ctxt.Flag_go115newobj = *flags.Go115Newobj
+	ctxt.IsAsm = true
 	switch *flags.Spectre {
 	default:
 		log.Printf("unknown setting -spectre=%s", *flags.Spectre)
diff --git a/src/cmd/internal/obj/link.go b/src/cmd/internal/obj/link.go
index 046ad53ac7..c7bab6a2ca 100644
--- a/src/cmd/internal/obj/link.go
+++ b/src/cmd/internal/obj/link.go
@@ -675,7 +675,8 @@ type Link struct {
 
 	InParallel           bool // parallel backend phase in effect
 	Framepointer_enabled bool
-	UseBASEntries        bool // Use Base Address Selection Entries in location lists and PC ranges
+	UseBASEntries        bool // use Base Address Selection Entries in location lists and PC ranges
+	IsAsm                bool // is the source assembly language, which may contain surprising idioms (e.g., call tables)
 
 	// state for writing objects
 	Text []*LSym