diff --git a/compiler/sempass2.nim b/compiler/sempass2.nim
index 397a710cef..88890921cd 100644
--- a/compiler/sempass2.nim
+++ b/compiler/sempass2.nim
@@ -751,7 +751,9 @@ proc track(tracked: PEffects, n: PNode) =
           discard
         else:
           message(tracked.config, arg.info, warnProveInit, $arg)
-      createTypeBoundOps(tracked.graph, tracked.c, n[1].typ.lastSon, n.info)
+      # check required for 'nim check':
+      if n[1].typ.len > 0:
+        createTypeBoundOps(tracked.graph, tracked.c, n[1].typ.lastSon, n.info)
     for i in 0 ..< safeLen(n):
       track(tracked, n.sons[i])
   of nkDotExpr:
diff --git a/compiler/vm.nim b/compiler/vm.nim
index 6be4cbdba4..dc83c756c1 100644
--- a/compiler/vm.nim
+++ b/compiler/vm.nim
@@ -1567,19 +1567,20 @@ proc rawExecute(c: PCtx, start: int, tos: PStackFrame): TFullReg =
       regs[ra].node.strVal = opSlurp(regs[rb].node.strVal, c.debug[pc],
                                      c.module, c.config)
     of opcGorge:
+      decodeBC(rkNode)
+      inc pc
+      let rd = c.code[pc].regA
+      createStr regs[ra]
       if defined(nimsuggest) or c.config.cmd == cmdCheck:
         discard "don't run staticExec for 'nim suggest'"
+        regs[ra].node.strVal = ""
       else:
         when defined(nimcore):
-          decodeBC(rkNode)
-          inc pc
-          let rd = c.code[pc].regA
-
-          createStr regs[ra]
           regs[ra].node.strVal = opGorge(regs[rb].node.strVal,
                                         regs[rc].node.strVal, regs[rd].node.strVal,
                                         c.debug[pc], c.config)[0]
         else:
+          regs[ra].node.strVal = ""
           globalError(c.config, c.debug[pc], "VM is not built with 'gorge' support")
     of opcNError, opcNWarning, opcNHint:
       decodeB(rkNode)