diff --git a/lld/lib/ReaderWriter/PECOFF/ReaderCOFF.cpp b/lld/lib/ReaderWriter/PECOFF/ReaderCOFF.cpp
index 6abd68966e3f..5eec68c31d2b 100644
--- a/lld/lib/ReaderWriter/PECOFF/ReaderCOFF.cpp
+++ b/lld/lib/ReaderWriter/PECOFF/ReaderCOFF.cpp
@@ -375,10 +375,8 @@ void FileCOFF::beforeLink() {
 
   // Add /INCLUDE'ed symbols to the file as if they existed in the
   // file as undefined symbols.
-  for (StringRef sym : undefSyms) {
+  for (StringRef sym : undefSyms)
     addUndefinedSymbol(sym);
-    _ctx.addDeadStripRoot(sym);
-  }
 
   // One can define alias symbols using /alternatename:<sym>=<sym> option.
   // The mapping for /alternatename is in the context object. This helper
@@ -389,6 +387,10 @@ void FileCOFF::beforeLink() {
   // SEH. Disable SEH if the file being read is not compatible.
   if (!isCompatibleWithSEH())
     _ctx.setSafeSEH(false);
+
+  if (_ctx.deadStrip())
+    for (const UndefinedAtom *undef : undefined())
+      _ctx.addDeadStripRoot(undef->name());
 }
 
 /// Iterate over the symbol table to retrieve all symbols.