diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Applications.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Applications.scala
index 4ecdaeb83b5a..2e1a8cb72540 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Applications.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Applications.scala
@@ -484,11 +484,7 @@ trait Applications extends Compatibility {
             cx.denotNamed(meth.name).hasAltWith(_.symbol == meth)) {
             val denot = cx.denotNamed(getterName)
             if (denot.exists) ref(TermRef(cx.owner.thisType, getterName, denot))
-            else {
-              assert(ctx.mode.is(Mode.Interactive) || ctx.reporter.errorsReported,
-                s"non-existent getter denotation ($denot) for getter($getterName)")
-              findGetter(cx.outer)
-            }
+            else findGetter(cx.outer)
           }
           else findGetter(cx.outer)
         findGetter(ctx)
diff --git a/tests/neg/i8002.scala b/tests/neg/i8002.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d14345d642d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/neg/i8002.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+class Foo
+  def f(x: Int, y: Int = 1) = ???
+
+object bar extends Foo
+  f()  // error: missing argument
\ No newline at end of file