diff --git a/lld/test/ELF/lto/thinlto-index-only.ll b/lld/test/ELF/lto/thinlto-index-only.ll
index 4ca4b3fd5c46..1ca0af1e8b05 100644
--- a/lld/test/ELF/lto/thinlto-index-only.ll
+++ b/lld/test/ELF/lto/thinlto-index-only.ll
@@ -34,6 +34,16 @@
 ; RUN: ld.lld --plugin-opt=thinlto-index-only -shared %t2.o --start-lib %t1.o --end-lib -o %t3
 ; RUN: ls %t1.o.thinlto.bc
 
+; Ensure lld generates an error if unable to write an empty index file
+; for lazy object file that is not added to link.
+; RUN: rm -f %t1.o.thinlto.bc
+; RUN: touch %t1.o.thinlto.bc
+; RUN: chmod 400 %t1.o.thinlto.bc
+; RUN: not ld.lld --plugin-opt=thinlto-index-only -shared %t2.o --start-lib %t1.o --end-lib \
+; RUN:   -o %t3 2>&1 | FileCheck %s
+; CHECK: cannot open {{.*}}1.o.thinlto.bc: {{P|p}}ermission denied
+; RUN: rm -f %t1.o.thinlto.bc
+
 ; NM: T f
 
 ; The backend index for this module contains summaries from itself and