diff --git a/linker/linker.cpp b/linker/linker.cpp
index dfa3d21..a4dae3e 100644
--- a/linker/linker.cpp
+++ b/linker/linker.cpp
@@ -3322,7 +3322,7 @@
 }
 
 bool soinfo::can_unload() const {
-  return (get_rtld_flags() & (RTLD_NODELETE | RTLD_GLOBAL)) == 0;
+  return !is_linked() || ((get_rtld_flags() & (RTLD_NODELETE | RTLD_GLOBAL)) == 0);
 }
 
 bool soinfo::is_linked() const {