diff --git a/compiler/vmgen.nim b/compiler/vmgen.nim
index a71ebc3519..8dbcc03a4c 100644
--- a/compiler/vmgen.nim
+++ b/compiler/vmgen.nim
@@ -1585,8 +1585,8 @@ proc genGlobalInit(c: PCtx; n: PNode; s: PSym) =
   #   var decls{.compileTime.}: seq[NimNode] = @[]
   let dest = c.getTemp(s.typ)
   c.gABx(n, opcLdGlobal, dest, s.position)
-  if s.ast != nil:
-    let tmp = c.genx(s.ast)
+  if s.astdef != nil:
+    let tmp = c.genx(s.astdef)
     c.genAdditionalCopy(n, opcWrDeref, dest, 0, tmp)
     c.freeTemp(dest)
     c.freeTemp(tmp)