diff -r 0cd18aa4f7b6 -r 7437dc810834 src/hotspot/share/oops/generateOopMap.cpp
--- a/src/hotspot/share/oops/generateOopMap.cpp	Fri Nov 10 09:16:42 2017 +0100
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/oops/generateOopMap.cpp	Fri Nov 10 13:10:54 2017 +0100
@@ -2146,8 +2146,14 @@
   // Append method name
   char msg_buffer2[512];
   jio_snprintf(msg_buffer2, sizeof(msg_buffer2), "%s in method %s", msg_buffer, method()->name()->as_C_string());
-  _exception = Exceptions::new_exception(Thread::current(),
-                vmSymbols::java_lang_LinkageError(), msg_buffer2);
+  if (Thread::current()->can_call_java()) {
+    _exception = Exceptions::new_exception(Thread::current(),
+                  vmSymbols::java_lang_LinkageError(), msg_buffer2);
+  } else {
+    // We cannot instantiate an exception object from a compiler thread.
+    // Exit the VM with a useful error message.
+    fatal("%s", msg_buffer2);
+  }
 }
 
 void GenerateOopMap::report_error(const char *format, ...) {
@@ -2159,14 +2165,7 @@
 void GenerateOopMap::verify_error(const char *format, ...) {
   // We do not distinguish between different types of errors for verification
   // errors.  Let the verifier give a better message.
-  const char *msg = "Illegal class file encountered. Try running with -Xverify:all";
-  _got_error = true;
-  // Append method name
-  char msg_buffer2[512];
-  jio_snprintf(msg_buffer2, sizeof(msg_buffer2), "%s in method %s", msg,
-               method()->name()->as_C_string());
-  _exception = Exceptions::new_exception(Thread::current(),
-                vmSymbols::java_lang_LinkageError(), msg_buffer2);
+  report_error("Illegal class file encountered. Try running with -Xverify:all");
 }
 
 //