diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/RefChecks.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/RefChecks.scala
index 292bbe6cc70d..94d35d4417d8 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/RefChecks.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/RefChecks.scala
@@ -108,6 +108,20 @@ object RefChecks {
     case _ =>
   }
 
+  /** Disallow using trait parameters as prefix for its parents.
+   *
+   *  The rationale is to ensure outer-related NPE never happen in Scala.
+   *  Otherwise, outer NPE may happen, see tests/neg/i5083.scala
+   */
+  private def checkParentPrefix(cls: Symbol, parent: Tree)(implicit ctx: Context): Unit =
+    parent.tpe.typeConstructor match {
+      case TypeRef(ref: TermRef, _) =>
+        val paramRefs = ref.namedPartsWith(ntp => ntp.symbol.enclosingClass == cls)
+        if (paramRefs.nonEmpty)
+          ctx.error("trait parameters cannot be used as parent prefixes", parent.pos)
+      case _ =>
+    }
+
   /** Check that a class and its companion object to not both define
    *  a class or module with same name
    */
@@ -961,6 +975,7 @@ class RefChecks extends MiniPhase { thisPhase =>
     val cls = ctx.owner
     checkOverloadedRestrictions(cls)
     checkParents(cls)
+    if (cls.is(Trait)) tree.parents.foreach(checkParentPrefix(cls, _))
     checkCompanionNameClashes(cls)
     checkAllOverrides(cls)
     tree
diff --git a/tests/neg/i5083.scala b/tests/neg/i5083.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..033b5ce8d784
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg/i5083.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+class A(a: Int) {
+  abstract class X {
+    def f: Int
+    val x = a + f      // NPE: the outer for `Y` is not yet set
+  }
+
+  trait Y {
+    val y = a
+    def f: Int = A.this.a      // NPE: the outer for `Y` is not yet set
+  }
+
+  trait Z(val o: A) extends o.Y {  // error
+    val z = a
+  }
+
+  class B extends X with Z(new A(4))
+}
+
+
+object Test {
+  def main(args: Array[String]): Unit = {
+    val a = new A(3)
+    new a.B
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/neg/i5083b.scala b/tests/neg/i5083b.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..c0623d716ebe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg/i5083b.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+class A(a: Int) {
+  class X {
+    val x = a
+  }
+
+  trait Y {
+    val y = a
+  }
+
+  val z: Z = ???
+
+  trait Z(val o: A) extends z.o.Y   // error: cyclic reference `z`
+
+  class B extends X with Z(new A(4))
+}
diff --git a/tests/neg/i5083c.scala b/tests/neg/i5083c.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..5a6cfc1a29ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg/i5083c.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+class A(a: Int) {
+  trait X {
+    def f: Int
+    val x = a + f      // NPE: the outer for `Y` is not yet set
+  }
+
+  trait Y {
+    val y = a
+    def f: Int = A.this.a      // NPE: the outer for `Y` is not yet set
+  }
+
+  class Z(o: A) extends m.Y {  // error
+    val m = o
+  }
+
+  class B extends Z(new A(4))
+}
+
+
+object Test {
+  def main(args: Array[String]): Unit = {
+    val a = new A(3)
+    new a.B
+  }
+}