diff --git a/tools/qfcc/source/struct.c b/tools/qfcc/source/struct.c
index 1a6b0cc12..bdcfb872a 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/source/struct.c
+++ b/tools/qfcc/source/struct.c
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ build_struct (int su, symbol_t *tag, symtab_t *symtab, type_t *type)
 				symtab->size = size;
 		}
 	}
-	sym->type = find_type (sym->type);	// checks the tag, not the symtab
+	if (!type)
+		sym->type = find_type (sym->type);	// checks the tag, not the symtab
 	sym->type->t.symtab = symtab;
 	return sym;
 }