{
          const expressionS *e = symbol_get_value_expression (symbolP);
 
-         know (e->X_op == O_register);
-         know (e->X_add_number >= 0
-               && (valueT) e->X_add_number < i386_regtab_size);
-         r = i386_regtab + e->X_add_number;
-         if (!check_register (r))
+         if (e->X_op == O_register)
+           {
+             know (e->X_add_number >= 0
+                   && (valueT) e->X_add_number < i386_regtab_size);
+             r = i386_regtab + e->X_add_number;
+             *end_op = input_line_pointer;
+           }
+         if (r && !check_register (r))
            {
              as_bad (_("register '%s%s' cannot be used here"),
                      register_prefix, r->reg_name);
              r = &bad_reg;
            }
-         *end_op = input_line_pointer;
        }
       *input_line_pointer = c;
       input_line_pointer = save;