diff --git a/compiler/src/dmd/typesem.d b/compiler/src/dmd/typesem.d
index 808878d2c866..ad87ea0baebe 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dmd/typesem.d
+++ b/compiler/src/dmd/typesem.d
@@ -1687,7 +1687,7 @@ Type typeSemantic(Type type, const ref Loc loc, Scope* sc)
             if (!ClassDeclaration.object)
             {
                 .error(Loc.initial, "missing or corrupt object.d");
-                fatal();
+                return error();
             }
 
             __gshared FuncDeclaration feq = null;