Please identify the version of your working binutils.  It would be really useful
to know which patch introduced the failure, or failing that, as narrow a date
range as you can manage easily.

Unfortunately, bisecting takes time, especially on my slow machine. What I can 
tell for now is that the CVS from 2008/07/03 works the CVS from 2008/08/14 does 
not work.

About the gcc 4.3 issue not activating pie with the -pie flag, it only happens 
if the output filename contains fpie.

The problem has been introduced by this (huge) changeset:

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

	* elf-bfd.h (elf_backend_data): Add a "rela_plts_and_copies_p" field.
	* elfxx-target.h (elf_backend_rela_plts_and_copies_p): New macro.
	(elfNN_bed): Use it.
	* elf.c (_bfd_elf_get_synthetic_symtab): Use rela_plts_and_copies_p
	instead of default_use_rela_p to choose between ".rel.plt" and
	".rela.plt".
	* elflink.c (_bfd_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Use
	rela_plts_and_copies_p instead of default_use_rela_p to choose
	between ".rel.plt" and ".rela.plt", and between ".rel.bss" and
	".rela.bss".

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

	* elf-bfd.h (MIPS_ELF_TDATA): New elf_object_id.
	* elf32-mips.c (bfd_elf32_mkobject): Define.
	* elf64-mips.c (bfd_elf64_mkobject): Likewise.
	* elfn32-mips.c (bfd_elf32_mkobject): Likewise.
	* elfxx-mips.h (_bfd_mips_elf_mkobject): Declare.
	* elfxx-mips.c (is_mips_elf): New macro.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_mkobject): New function.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_final_link): Use is_mips_elf.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_merge_private_bfd_data): Likewise.

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

	* elfxx-mips.c (mips_elf_record_relocs): Defer allocation of a
	global GOT entry when deferring allocation of dynamic relocations.
	(allocate_dynrelocs): When allocating deferred dynamic relocations,
	also do the deferred allocation of a GOT entry.

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

	* elfxx-mips.c (mips_got_info): Add a "reloc_only_gotno" field.
	(mips_elf_got_section): Delete.
	(mips_elf_sort_hash_table): Use g->reloc_only_gotno to decide
	how many reloc-only entries there are.
	(mips_elf_count_got_symbols): Adjust g->reloc_only_gotno as
	well as g->global_gotno.
	(mips_elf_make_got_per_bfd): Initialize reloc_only_gotno.
	(mips_elf_multi_got): Likewise.  Use gg->reloc_only_gotno
	rather than gg->assigned_gotno to store the number of
	reloc-only GOT entries.
	(mips_elf_create_got_section): Remove the MAYBE_EXCLUDE parameter.
	Initialize reloc_only_gotno.
	(mips_elf_calculate_relocation): Check htab->got_info instead of
	dynobj when deciding whether to call mips_elf_adjust_gp,
	(_bfd_mips_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Adjust the call
	to mips_elf_create_got_section.
	(mips_elf_record_relocs): Likewise.  Remove redundant
	"dynobj == NULL" code.  Do not use mips_elf_create_got_section
	or mips_elf_record_global_got_symbol for R_MIPS_32, R_MIPS_REL32
	and R_MIPS_64; limit global_got_area to GGA_RELOC_ONLY instead.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_finish_dynamic_symbol): Use htab->sgot instead
	of mips_elf_got_section.
	(_bfd_mips_vxworks_finish_dynamic_symbol): Likewise.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_finish_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
	Move the initial assignment of G to the block that uses it;
	it is used for an unrelated purpose later.

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

	* elfxx-mips.c (count_section_dynsyms): Move before the new first use.
	(mips_elf_sort_hash_table): Take the output bfd as a parameter.
	Remove the MAX_LOCAL parameter.  Exit early if there are no
	dynamic symbols, if there is no dynobj, or if there is no
	GOT section.  Use count_section_dynsyms instead of MAX_LOCAL.
	Assert == rather than <= when checking hsd.max_unref_got_dynindx.
	Also assert that g->global_gotno is right.
	(mips_elf_count_forced_local_got_symbols): Rename to...
	(mips_elf_count_got_symbols): ...and count global GOT entries too.
	Set the global_got_area of a forced-local GGA_RELOC_ONLY symbol
	to GGA_NONE.
	(mips_elf_multi_got): Don't sort the symbol table.
	(mips_elf_lay_out_got): Likewise.  Use mips_elf_count_got_symbols
	to count the number of global GOT entries.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_final_link): Unconditionally call
	mips_elf_sort_hash_table.

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

	* elfxx-mips.c (GGA_NORMAL, GGA_RELOC_ONLY, GGA_NONE): New macros.
	(mips_elf_link_hash_entry): Add a "global_got_area" field.
	(mips_elf_link_hash_newfunc): Initialize it.
	(mips_elf_sort_hash_table_f): Use h->global_got_area instead of
	h->root.got.offset.  Do not handle forced_local symbols specially.
	(mips_elf_record_global_got_symbol): Set h->global_got_area
	instead of h->root.got.offset.
	(mips_elf_recreate_got): Assert that h->global_got_area == GGA_NONE
	for indirect and warning symbols.
	(mips_elf_count_forced_local_got_symbols): Change the argument
	from a "elf_link_hash_entry" to "mips_elf_link_hash_entry".
	Use and set h->global_got_area instead of h->root.got.offset.
	Set it to GGA_NONE for all forced-local symbols.
	(mips_elf_set_global_got_offset): Set h->global_got_area
	instead of h->root.got.offset.  Use g->global_got_area instead
	of a combination of dynindx, forced_local and tls_type.
	(mips_elf_multi_got): Remove disabled code.  Pass GGA_* values to
	mips_elf_set_global_got_offset.
	(mips_elf_lay_out_got): Use mips_elf_link_hash_traverse instead
	of elf_link_hash_traverse.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_copy_indirect_symbol): Copy the indirect symbol's
	global_got_area to the direct symbol if the latter's value is higher.
	Set the indirect symbol's area to GGA_NONE.

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

	* elf32-mips.c (elf_backend_hide_symbol): Delete.
	* elfn32-mips.c (elf_backend_hide_symbol): Likewise.
	* elf64-mips.c (elf_backend_hide_symbol): Likewise.
	* elfxx-mips.h (elf_backend_hide_symbol): Likewise.
	* elfxx-mips.c (mips_elf_link_hash_entry): Remove "forced_local"
	and add "needs_lazy_stub".
	(mips_elf_link_hash_newfunc): Update accordingly.
	(mips_elf_link_hash_table): Remove "computed_got_sizes" and
	add "lazy_stub_count".
	(_bfd_mips_elf_link_hash_table_create): Update accordingly.
	(mips_elf_output_extsym): Use hd->needs_lazy_stub to detect
	cases where a lazy stub is being used.
	(mips_elf_sort_hash_table_f): Use h->root.forced_local instead
	of h->forced_local.
	(mips_elf_record_global_got_symbol): Use _bfd_elf_link_hash_hide_symbol
	instead of _bfd_mips_elf_hide_symbol.  Do not increment local_gotno
	here.
	(mips_elf_allocate_dynamic_relocations): Move before new first use.
	(mips_elf_check_recreate_got, mips_elf_recreate_got): New functions.
	(mips_elf_resolve_final_got_entries): Move earlier in file.  Make at
	most two passes over the hash table.  Use mips_elf_check_recreate_got
	to see if there are any indirect or warning entries and
	mips_elf_recreate_got to create a new GOT without them.
	Return a boolean success value.
	(mips_elf_count_forced_local_got_entries): New function.
	(mips_elf_make_got_per_bfd): Check h->root.forced_local instead of
	h->forced_local.
	(mips_elf_set_global_got_offset): Likewise.
	(mips_elf_set_no_stub): Replace with...
	(mips_elf_forbid_lazy_stubs): ...this new function.
	(mips_elf_resolve_final_got_entry): Delete.
	(mips_elf_multi_got): Fix formatting.  Use mips_elf_forbid_lazy_stubs
	instead of mips_elf_set_no_stub.  Move the code that sets
	global offsets and allocates dynamic relocations from the main
	_bfd_mips_elf_size_dynamic_sections loop to here.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_adjust_dynamic_symbol): Do not allocate room in
	.MIPS.stubs here; just set hmips->needs_lazy_stub and increment
	htab->lazy_stub_count.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_always_size_sections): Move the stub-estimation
	code to mips_elf_estimate_stub_size and the GOT-sizing code to
	mips_elf_lay_out_got.  Do not call these functions here.
	(mips_elf_estimate_stub_size): New function, split
	out from _bfd_mips_elf_always_size_sections.  Call
	mips_elf_resolve_final_got_entries earlier.  Count the number
	of forced-local entries.  Do not add stub sizes to loadable_size;
	after this patch, the stub sizes are already included in the main
	estimate.  Allocate dynamic relocations here rather than in the
	main _bfd_mips_elf_size_dynamic_sections loop.
	(mips_elf_estimate_stub_size): New function, split out from
	_bfd_mips_elf_always_size_sections.
	(mips_elf_allocate_lazy_stub): New function.
	(mips_elf_lay_out_lazy_stubs): Likewise.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_size_dynamic_sections): Call 
mips_elf_estimate_stub_size,
	mips_elf_lay_out_got and mips_elf_lay_out_lazy_stubs.  Do not handle
	the allocation of sreldyn specially.
	(_bfd_mips_elf_hide_symbol): Delete.

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

	* elfxx-mips.c (allocate_dynrelocs): Ignore indirect and warning
	symbols.

I have been able to bisect the bug further, here is the changeset that causes 
the problem:

2008-08-07  Richard Sandiford  <rdsandiford@googlemail.com>

       * elfxx-mips.c (mips_got_info): Add a "reloc_only_gotno" field.
       (mips_elf_got_section): Delete.
       (mips_elf_sort_hash_table): Use g->reloc_only_gotno to decide
       how many reloc-only entries there are.
       (mips_elf_count_got_symbols): Adjust g->reloc_only_gotno as
       well as g->global_gotno.
       (mips_elf_make_got_per_bfd): Initialize reloc_only_gotno.
       (mips_elf_multi_got): Likewise.  Use gg->reloc_only_gotno
       rather than gg->assigned_gotno to store the number of
       reloc-only GOT entries.
       (mips_elf_create_got_section): Remove the MAYBE_EXCLUDE parameter.
       Initialize reloc_only_gotno.
       (mips_elf_calculate_relocation): Check htab->got_info instead of
       dynobj when deciding whether to call mips_elf_adjust_gp,
       (_bfd_mips_elf_create_dynamic_sections): Adjust the call
       to mips_elf_create_got_section.
       (mips_elf_record_relocs): Likewise.  Remove redundant
       "dynobj == NULL" code.  Do not use mips_elf_create_got_section
       or mips_elf_record_global_got_symbol for R_MIPS_32, R_MIPS_REL32
       and R_MIPS_64; limit global_got_area to GGA_RELOC_ONLY instead.
       (_bfd_mips_elf_finish_dynamic_symbol): Use htab->sgot instead
       of mips_elf_got_section.
       (_bfd_mips_vxworks_finish_dynamic_symbol): Likewise.
       (_bfd_mips_elf_finish_dynamic_sections): Likewise.
       Move the initial assignment of G to the block that uses it;
       it is used for an unrelated purpose later.

Created attachment 4356 [details]
likely fix

I believe this patch will fix your problem, but I don't have mips machines and
toolchains to properly test.  Hmm, an alternate (and better!) fix would be to
use " if (!SYMBOL_REFERENCES_LOCAL (info, &h->root))" here.

Thanks a lot for the patch, I confirm it works for both the versions just after 
the problem has been introduced and trunk. I also checked it introduces no 
regressions on the trunk version.

I haven't tested your alternative patch yet, I will do that soon.

The alternative patch also fixes the problem, and also doesn't introduce any 
regressions in the testsuite.

I've recently hit this problem myself. Is there any chance of one of the fixes
being committed? Thanks.

Subject: Bug 10858

CVSROOT:	/cvs/src
Module name:	src
Changes by:	nickc@sourceware.org	2010-02-24 14:21:51

Modified files:
	bfd            : ChangeLog elfxx-mips.c 

Log message:
	PR binutils/10858
	* elfxx-mips.c (mips_elf_create_dynamic_relocation): Ise
	SYMBOL_REFERENCES_LOCAL to exclude entries from the dynamic symbol
	table.

Patches:
http://sources.redhat.com/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/src/bfd/ChangeLog.diff?cvsroot=src&r1=1.4940&r2=1.4941
http://sources.redhat.com/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/src/bfd/elfxx-mips.c.diff?cvsroot=src&r1=1.266&r2=1.267

Hi Jay, Hi Aurelian,

  I have checked in the modified version of Alan's patch.

Cheers
  Nick

Thanks Nick!