diff --git a/elfio/elfio_symbols.hpp b/elfio/elfio_symbols.hpp
index 685a004..c56e23e 100644
--- a/elfio/elfio_symbols.hpp
+++ b/elfio/elfio_symbols.hpp
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ template <class S> class symbol_section_accessor_template
     Elf_Xword get_symbols_num() const
     {
         Elf_Xword nRet = 0;
-        if ( 0 != symbol_section->get_entry_size() ) {
+        if ( 0 != symbol_section->get_entry_size() &&
+             symbol_section->get_size() < symbol_section->get_stream_size() ) {
             nRet =
                 symbol_section->get_size() / symbol_section->get_entry_size();
         }