diff --git a/lang/m2/comp/def.c b/lang/m2/comp/def.c
index be972ca4..21ecfbd2 100644
--- a/lang/m2/comp/def.c
+++ b/lang/m2/comp/def.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ MkDef(id, scope, kind)
 	df->df_kind = kind;
 	df->df_next = id->id_def;
 	id->id_def = df;
-	if (kind == D_ERROR) df->df_type = error_type;
+	if (kind == D_ERROR || kind == D_FORWARD) df->df_type = error_type;
 
 	/* enter the definition in the list of definitions in this scope
 	*/