diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 302921dab..4346791ef 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ Please visit [cucumber/CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/cucumber/cucumber/blo
   All logic contained in [compatibility](./compatibility) ([luke-hill](https://github.com/luke-hill))
 
 ### Fixed
+- Fix a situation whereby the step definition message will omit the parameter-type name when it cannot be inferred
+  (This fixes an issue in cucumber-wire when passing legacy steps down the wire)
+  ([#1746](https://github.com/cucumber/cucumber-ruby/pull/1746) [luke-hill](https://github.com/luke-hill))
 
 ### Removed
 
diff --git a/lib/cucumber/formatter/message_builder.rb b/lib/cucumber/formatter/message_builder.rb
index e834b46b6..aebec612d 100644
--- a/lib/cucumber/formatter/message_builder.rb
+++ b/lib/cucumber/formatter/message_builder.rb
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ def step_match_arguments(step)
         @step_definitions_by_test_step.step_match_arguments(step).map do |argument|
           Cucumber::Messages::StepMatchArgument.new(
             group: argument_group_to_message(argument.group),
-            parameter_type_name: argument.parameter_type.name
+            parameter_type_name: parameter_type_name(argument)
           )
         end
       end
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ def argument_group_to_message(group)
         )
       end
 
+      def parameter_type_name(step_match_argument)
+        step_match_argument.parameter_type&.name if step_match_argument.respond_to?(:parameter_type)
+      end
+
       def on_test_run_started(*)
         message = Cucumber::Messages::Envelope.new(
           test_run_started: Cucumber::Messages::TestRunStarted.new(