diff --git a/tools/qfcc/source/expr_obj.c b/tools/qfcc/source/expr_obj.c
index 4e21f76f5..4adfdd860 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/source/expr_obj.c
+++ b/tools/qfcc/source/expr_obj.c
@@ -219,6 +219,11 @@ message_expr (const expr_t *receiver, keywordarg_t *message)
 	if (!rec_type) {
 		rec_type = get_type (receiver);
 	}
+	if (!rec_type) {
+		auto err = new_expr ();
+		err->type = ex_error;
+		return err;
+	}
 
 	if (receiver->type == ex_error)
 		return receiver;