diff --git a/compiler/ast.nim b/compiler/ast.nim
index 77ac5757af..5fc8e5978f 100644
--- a/compiler/ast.nim
+++ b/compiler/ast.nim
@@ -1734,7 +1734,7 @@ proc isException*(t: PType): bool =
     return false
 
   var base = t
-  while base != nil and base.kind in {tyObject, tyGenericInst}:
+  while base != nil and base.kind in {tyRef, tyObject, tyGenericInst}:
     if base.sym != nil and base.sym.magic == mException:
       return true
     base = base.lastSon