diff --git a/gcc/ada/sem_prag.adb b/gcc/ada/sem_prag.adb
index 28c5f1776db..6b38de037bf 100644
--- a/gcc/ada/sem_prag.adb
+++ b/gcc/ada/sem_prag.adb
@@ -21867,8 +21867,17 @@ package body Sem_Prag is
 
             if Rep_Item_Too_Late (Def_Id, N) then
                return;
-            else
-               Set_Has_Gigi_Rep_Item (Def_Id);
+            end if;
+
+            Set_Has_Gigi_Rep_Item (Def_Id);
+
+            --  The pragma is processed directly by the back end when Def_Id is
+            --  translated. If the argument is not a string literal, it may be
+            --  declared after Def_Id and before the pragma, which requires the
+            --  processing of Def_Id to be delayed for the back end.
+
+            if Nkind (Get_Pragma_Arg (Arg2)) /= N_String_Literal then
+               Set_Has_Delayed_Freeze (Def_Id);
             end if;
          end Machine_Attribute;
 
diff --git a/gcc/testsuite/gnat.dg/machine_attr3.adb b/gcc/testsuite/gnat.dg/machine_attr3.adb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..68a9c77cbf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gcc/testsuite/gnat.dg/machine_attr3.adb
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+-- { dg-do compile }
+
+package body Machine_Attr3 is
+
+  procedure Proc is null;
+
+end Machine_Attr3;
diff --git a/gcc/testsuite/gnat.dg/machine_attr3.ads b/gcc/testsuite/gnat.dg/machine_attr3.ads
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..edb7b7d0ee5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gcc/testsuite/gnat.dg/machine_attr3.ads
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+package Machine_Attr3 is
+
+  procedure Proc;
+
+private
+
+  Attr : constant String := "nothrow";
+  pragma Machine_Attribute (Proc, Attr);
+
+end Machine_Attr3;