diff --git a/gcc/c/c-parser.c b/gcc/c/c-parser.c
index 9589cc68c25b5b15bb364fdae56e24dedbe91601..05485833d306cd79c5405543175b63c2e7e62538 100644
--- a/gcc/c/c-parser.c
+++ b/gcc/c/c-parser.c
@@ -20868,11 +20868,9 @@ c_parser_parse_rtl_body (c_parser *parser, char *start_with_pass)
       return;
     }
 
- /*  If a pass name was provided for START_WITH_PASS, run the backend
-     accordingly now, on the cfun created above, transferring
-     ownership of START_WITH_PASS.  */
-  if (start_with_pass)
-    run_rtl_passes (start_with_pass);
+ /*  Run the backend on the cfun created above, transferring ownership of
+     START_WITH_PASS.  */
+  run_rtl_passes (start_with_pass);
 }
 
 #include "gt-c-c-parser.h"
diff --git a/gcc/run-rtl-passes.c b/gcc/run-rtl-passes.c
index f65c0af6dfd48aa9ca7ec29b63d7cd4108432178..38765ebbc288e7aef35d7c02693efd534c6b2ddc 100644
--- a/gcc/run-rtl-passes.c
+++ b/gcc/run-rtl-passes.c
@@ -49,24 +49,31 @@ run_rtl_passes (char *initial_pass_name)
   switch_to_section (text_section);
   (*debug_hooks->assembly_start) ();
 
-  /* Pass "expand" normally sets this up.  */
+  if (initial_pass_name)
+    {
+      /* Pass "expand" normally sets this up.  */
 #ifdef INSN_SCHEDULING
-  init_sched_attrs ();
+      init_sched_attrs ();
 #endif
+      bitmap_obstack_initialize (NULL);
+      bitmap_obstack_initialize (&reg_obstack);
+      opt_pass *rest_of_compilation
+	= g->get_passes ()->get_rest_of_compilation ();
+      gcc_assert (rest_of_compilation);
+      execute_pass_list (cfun, rest_of_compilation);
 
-  bitmap_obstack_initialize (NULL);
-  bitmap_obstack_initialize (&reg_obstack);
-
-  opt_pass *rest_of_compilation
-    = g->get_passes ()->get_rest_of_compilation ();
-  gcc_assert (rest_of_compilation);
-  execute_pass_list (cfun, rest_of_compilation);
-
-  opt_pass *clean_slate = g->get_passes ()->get_clean_slate ();
-  gcc_assert (clean_slate);
-  execute_pass_list (cfun, clean_slate);
-
-  bitmap_obstack_release (&reg_obstack);
+      opt_pass *clean_slate = g->get_passes ()->get_clean_slate ();
+      gcc_assert (clean_slate);
+      execute_pass_list (cfun, clean_slate);
+      bitmap_obstack_release (&reg_obstack);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      opt_pass *clean_slate = g->get_passes ()->get_clean_slate ();
+      gcc_assert (clean_slate);
+      execute_pass_list (cfun, clean_slate);
+    }
 
   cfun->curr_properties |= PROP_rtl;
+  free (initial_pass_name);
 }
diff --git a/gcc/testsuite/gcc.dg/rtl/aarch64/unspecified-pass-error.c b/gcc/testsuite/gcc.dg/rtl/aarch64/unspecified-pass-error.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..596501e977044132bd3e9a2d0afd0f8b2b789186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gcc/testsuite/gcc.dg/rtl/aarch64/unspecified-pass-error.c
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/* { dg-do compile { target aarch64-*-* } } */
+/* { dg-additional-options "-O0" } */
+
+/*
+   Ensure an __RTL function with an unspecified "startwith" pass doesn't cause
+   an assertion error on the next function.
+ */
+
+int __RTL () badfoo ()
+{
+(function "badfoo"
+  (insn-chain
+    (block 2
+      (edge-from entry (flags "FALLTHRU"))
+      (cnote 3 [bb 2] NOTE_INSN_BASIC_BLOCK)
+      (cinsn 101 (set (reg:DI x19) (reg:DI x0)))
+      (cinsn 10 (use (reg/i:SI x19)))
+      (edge-to exit (flags "FALLTHRU"))
+    ) ;; block 2
+  ) ;; insn-chain
+) ;; function "foo2"
+}
+
+/* Compile a valid C function to test the clean_state pass has been run.  */
+int
+foo_a ()
+{
+  return 200;
+}
+