diff --git a/src/cmd/link/internal/loader/loader.go b/src/cmd/link/internal/loader/loader.go
index 9b7888e9403..34c1c6a4c86 100644
--- a/src/cmd/link/internal/loader/loader.go
+++ b/src/cmd/link/internal/loader/loader.go
@@ -2592,7 +2592,9 @@ type ErrorReporter struct {
 //
 func (reporter *ErrorReporter) Errorf(s Sym, format string, args ...interface{}) {
 	if s != 0 && reporter.ldr.SymName(s) != "" {
-		format = reporter.ldr.SymName(s) + ": " + format
+		// Note: Replace is needed here because symbol names might have % in them,
+		// due to the use of LinkString for names of instantiating types.
+		format = strings.Replace(reporter.ldr.SymName(s), "%", "%%", -1) + ": " + format
 	} else {
 		format = fmt.Sprintf("sym %d: %s", s, format)
 	}