diff --git a/compiler/layeredtable.nim b/compiler/layeredtable.nim
index 9acd84ff26aa5..9b2e4502c7265 100644
--- a/compiler/layeredtable.nim
+++ b/compiler/layeredtable.nim
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ proc setToPreviousLayer*(pt: var LayeredIdTable) =
   pt = y[]
 
 proc lookup(typeMap: ref LayeredIdTable, key: ItemId): PType =
+  result = nil
   var tm = typeMap
   while tm != nil:
     result = getOrDefault(tm.topLayer, key)