diff --git a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/SymDenotations.scala b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/SymDenotations.scala
index 44629c036c2f..bc253021f973 100644
--- a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/SymDenotations.scala
+++ b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/SymDenotations.scala
@@ -744,7 +744,8 @@ object SymDenotations {
     final def enclosingMethod(implicit ctx: Context): Symbol =
       if (this is (Method, butNot = Label)) symbol
       else if (this.isClass) primaryConstructor
-      else owner.enclosingMethod
+      else if (this.exists) owner.enclosingMethod
+      else NoSymbol
 
     /** The top-level class containing this denotation,
      *  except for a toplevel module, where its module class is returned.
diff --git a/tests/pos/KillLambdaLift.scala b/tests/pos/KillLambdaLift.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..23a40da5ed9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/pos/KillLambdaLift.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+class KillLambdaLift {
+  private def com: this.type = _root_.scala.Predef.???
+}