diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
index fb399b11422f..a7bb6c417932 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
@@ -962,6 +962,8 @@ def get_archive_name(self, filename: str) -> str:
         return self.linker.get_archive_name(filename)
 
     def get_command_to_archive_shlib(self) -> T.List[str]:
+        if not self.linker:
+            return []
         return self.linker.get_command_to_archive_shlib()
 
     def thread_flags(self, env: 'Environment') -> T.List[str]: