diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/elisp-mode.el b/lisp/progmodes/elisp-mode.el
index 4207edb8af5..c3e73767f90 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/elisp-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/elisp-mode.el
@@ -1699,9 +1699,11 @@ current buffer state and calls REPORT-FN when done."
           (when (eq (process-status proc) 'exit)
             (unwind-protect
                 (cond
-                 ((not (eq proc (with-current-buffer source-buffer
-                                  elisp-flymake--byte-compile-process)))
-                  (flymake-log :warning "byte-compile process %s obsolete" proc))
+                 ((not (and (buffer-live-p source-buffer)
+                            (eq proc (with-current-buffer source-buffer
+                                       elisp-flymake--byte-compile-process))))
+                  (flymake-log :warning
+                               "byte-compile process %s obsolete" proc))
                  ((zerop (process-exit-status proc))
                   (elisp-flymake--byte-compile-done report-fn
                                                     source-buffer