diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Types.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Types.scala
index 6a5d48866158..838754d13299 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Types.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Types.scala
@@ -353,7 +353,8 @@ object Types {
      *
      */
     def isErroneous(using Context): Boolean =
-      widen.existsPart(_.isError, forceLazy = false)
+      try widen.existsPart(_.isError, forceLazy = false)
+      catch case ex: TypeError => true
 
     /** Is this type unusable for implicit search or overloading resolution
      *  since it has embedded errors that can match anything? This is weaker and more