diff --git a/scripts/dtc/checks.c b/scripts/dtc/checks.c
index 08a3a29edae3..e66138449886 100644
--- a/scripts/dtc/checks.c
+++ b/scripts/dtc/checks.c
@@ -988,6 +988,10 @@ static void check_property_phandle_args(struct check *c,
 		 * entries when each index position has a specific definition.
 		 */
 		if (phandle == 0 || phandle == -1) {
+			/* Give up if this is an overlay with external references */
+			if (dti->dtsflags & DTSF_PLUGIN)
+				break;
+
 			cellsize = 0;
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1176,6 +1180,11 @@ static void check_interrupts_property(struct check *c,
 		prop = get_property(parent, "interrupt-parent");
 		if (prop) {
 			phandle = propval_cell(prop);
+			/* Give up if this is an overlay with external references */
+			if ((phandle == 0 || phandle == -1) &&
+			    (dti->dtsflags & DTSF_PLUGIN))
+					return;
+
 			irq_node = get_node_by_phandle(root, phandle);
 			if (!irq_node) {
 				FAIL(c, dti, "Bad interrupt-parent phandle for %s",
diff --git a/scripts/dtc/version_gen.h b/scripts/dtc/version_gen.h
index d88393cab14a..6a4e84798966 100644
--- a/scripts/dtc/version_gen.h
+++ b/scripts/dtc/version_gen.h
@@ -1 +1 @@
-#define DTC_VERSION "DTC 1.4.5-gb1a60033"
+#define DTC_VERSION "DTC 1.4.5-gc1e55a55"