diff --git a/compiler/semexprs.nim b/compiler/semexprs.nim
index d39fe146e7..d4f33eb416 100644
--- a/compiler/semexprs.nim
+++ b/compiler/semexprs.nim
@@ -2270,6 +2270,8 @@ proc semMagic(c: PContext, n: PNode, s: PSym, flags: TExprFlags): PNode =
     let typ = result[1].typ.base
     if typ.kind == tyObject:
       checkDefaultConstruction(c, typ, n.info)
+    elif typ.kind in {tyRef, tyPtr} and tfNotNil in typ.flags:
+      localError(c.config, n.info, "not nil types don't have a default value")
   else:
     result = semDirectOp(c, n, flags)
 
diff --git a/tests/constructors/tinvalid_construction.nim b/tests/constructors/tinvalid_construction.nim
index 46156db6c5..eb84c53c8c 100644
--- a/tests/constructors/tinvalid_construction.nim
+++ b/tests/constructors/tinvalid_construction.nim
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ type
 
   THasNotNilsRef = ref THasNotNils
 
+  TRefObjNotNil = TRefObj not nil
+
   TChoice = enum A, B, C, D, E, F
 
   TBaseHasNotNils = object of THasNotNils
@@ -84,6 +86,9 @@ proc userDefinedDefault(T: typedesc): T =
   # with constructing requiresInit types
   discard
 
+proc genericDefault(T: typedesc): T =
+  result = default(T)
+
 accept TObj()
 accept TObj(choice: A)
 reject TObj(choice: A, bc: 10)  # bc is in the wrong branch
@@ -102,9 +107,18 @@ accept THasNotNils(a: notNilRef, b: notNilRef, c: nilRef)
 reject THasNotNils(b: notNilRef, c: notNilRef)              # there is a missing not nil field
 reject THasNotNils()                                        # again, missing fields
 accept THasNotNils(a: notNilRef, b: notNilRef)              # it's OK to omit a non-mandatory field
+reject default(THasNotNils)
+reject userDefinedDefault(THasNotNils)
+
+reject default(TRefObjNotNil)
+reject userDefinedDefault(TRefObjNotNil)
+reject genericDefault(TRefObjNotNil)
 
 # missing not nils in base
 reject TBaseHasNotNils()
+reject default(TBaseHasNotNils)
+reject userDefinedDefault(TBaseHasNotNils)
+reject genericDefault(TBaseHasNotNils)
 
 # once you take care of them, it's ok
 accept TBaseHasNotNils(a: notNilRef, b: notNilRef, choice: D)