diff --git a/compiler/semexprs.nim b/compiler/semexprs.nim
index 08a2e2ce9a..6fefda52d6 100644
--- a/compiler/semexprs.nim
+++ b/compiler/semexprs.nim
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ proc semSym(c: PContext, n: PNode, sym: PSym, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
   of skParam:
     markUsed(n.info, s, c.graph.usageSym)
     styleCheckUse(n.info, s)
-    if s.typ.kind == tyStatic and s.typ.n != nil:
+    if s.typ != nil and s.typ.kind == tyStatic and s.typ.n != nil:
       # XXX see the hack in sigmatch.nim ...
       return s.typ.n
     elif sfGenSym in s.flags: