diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 9f708cbe1..a989b93fb 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ Other fixes:
  - CMake: Link with correct OpenGL library (fixes mgba.io/i/1872)
  - Core: Ensure ELF regions can be written before trying
  - Core: Fix threading improperly setting paused state while interrupted
+ - Core: Fix loading ELF files that have unexpected empty program headers
  - Debugger: Don't skip undefined instructions when debugger attached
  - Debugger: Close trace log when done tracing
  - Debugger: Fix change watchpoints (fixes mgba.io/i/1947)
diff --git a/src/core/core.c b/src/core/core.c
index 4df6636a0..5afdc8667 100644
--- a/src/core/core.c
+++ b/src/core/core.c
@@ -382,6 +382,9 @@ bool mCoreLoadELF(struct mCore* core, struct ELF* elf) {
 	for (i = 0; i < ELFProgramHeadersSize(&ph); ++i) {
 		size_t bsize, esize;
 		Elf32_Phdr* phdr = ELFProgramHeadersGetPointer(&ph, i);
+		if (!phdr->p_filesz) {
+			continue;
+		}
 		void* block = mCoreGetMemoryBlockMasked(core, phdr->p_paddr, &bsize, mCORE_MEMORY_WRITE | mCORE_MEMORY_WORM);
 		char* bytes = ELFBytes(elf, &esize);
 		if (block && bsize >= phdr->p_filesz && esize > phdr->p_offset && esize >= phdr->p_filesz + phdr->p_offset) {