diff --git a/compiler/semstmts.nim b/compiler/semstmts.nim
index 1bb95edcff..fe8fc0956e 100644
--- a/compiler/semstmts.nim
+++ b/compiler/semstmts.nim
@@ -2622,7 +2622,7 @@ proc semProcAux(c: PContext, n: PNode, kind: TSymKind,
 proc determineType(c: PContext, s: PSym) =
   if s.typ != nil: return
   #if s.magic != mNone: return
-  if s.ast.isNil: 
+  if s.ast.isNil and sfForward notin s.flags: 
     globalError(c.config, s.info, errIllFormedAstX, "symbol of kind " & $s.kind)
   discard semProcAux(c, s.ast, s.kind, {})