diff --git a/cranelift/simplejit/src/backend.rs b/cranelift/simplejit/src/backend.rs
index fc22d62f92..f4c6af2da1 100644
--- a/cranelift/simplejit/src/backend.rs
+++ b/cranelift/simplejit/src/backend.rs
@@ -361,8 +361,11 @@ impl<'simple_jit_backend> Backend for SimpleJITBackend {
             ref data_decls,
             ref function_relocs,
             ref data_relocs,
+            section: ref datasection,
         } = data.description();
 
+        assert!(datasection.is_none(), "Custom sections not supported");
+
         let size = init.size();
         let storage = if writable {
             self.memory