diff --git a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Symbols.scala b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Symbols.scala
index f6e4119ea6fd..a27ce3d6accc 100644
--- a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Symbols.scala
+++ b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Symbols.scala
@@ -418,9 +418,12 @@ object Symbols {
     def filter(p: Symbol => Boolean): Symbol = if (p(this)) this else NoSymbol
 
     /** Is this symbol a user-defined value class? */
-    final def isDerivedValueClass(implicit ctx: Context): Boolean =
+    final def isDerivedValueClass(implicit ctx: Context): Boolean = {
+      this.derivesFrom(defn.AnyValClass)(ctx.withPhase(denot.validFor.firstPhaseId))
+        // Simulate ValueClasses.isDerivedValueClass
       false  // will migrate to ValueClasses.isDerivedValueClass;
                // unsupported value class code will continue to use this stub while it exists
+    }
 
     /** The current name of this symbol */
     final def name(implicit ctx: Context): ThisName = denot.name.asInstanceOf[ThisName]
diff --git a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/ValueClasses.scala b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/ValueClasses.scala
index 1527d46bbaa2..276385b0b40c 100644
--- a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/ValueClasses.scala
+++ b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/ValueClasses.scala
@@ -11,11 +11,15 @@ import Flags._
 /** Methods that apply to user-defined value classes */
 object ValueClasses {
 
-  def isDerivedValueClass(d: SymDenotation)(implicit ctx: Context) =
-    d.isClass &&
-      d.derivesFrom(defn.AnyValClass) &&
-      (d.symbol ne defn.AnyValClass) &&
-      !d.isPrimitiveValueClass
+  def isDerivedValueClass(d: SymDenotation)(implicit ctx: Context) = {
+    val di = d.initial.asSymDenotation
+    di.isClass &&
+    di.derivesFrom(defn.AnyValClass)(ctx.withPhase(di.validFor.firstPhaseId)) &&
+      // need to check derivesFrom at initialPhase to avoid cyclic references caused
+      // by forcing in transformInfo
+    (di.symbol ne defn.AnyValClass) &&
+    !di.isPrimitiveValueClass
+  }
 
   def isMethodWithExtension(d: SymDenotation)(implicit ctx: Context) =
     d.isSourceMethod &&