diff --git a/compiler/vmgen.nim b/compiler/vmgen.nim
index 13f4458c2f..7a4d2ba880 100644
--- a/compiler/vmgen.nim
+++ b/compiler/vmgen.nim
@@ -559,6 +559,8 @@ proc genCall(c: PCtx; n: PNode; dest: var TDest) =
   #if n.typ != nil and n.typ.sym != nil and n.typ.sym.magic == mPNimrodNode:
   #  genLit(c, n, dest)
   #  return
+  # bug #10901: do not produce code for wrong call expressions:
+  if n.len == 0 or n[0].typ.isNil: return
   if dest < 0 and not isEmptyType(n.typ): dest = getTemp(c, n.typ)
   let x = c.getTempRange(n.len, slotTempUnknown)
   # varargs need 'opcSetType' for the FFI support: