diff --git a/src/errors.h b/src/errors.h
index f1c36ad7bb..445a9b8d6e 100644
--- a/src/errors.h
+++ b/src/errors.h
@@ -3452,4 +3452,6 @@ EXTERN char e_cannot_use_color_none_did_you_mean_none[]
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
 EXTERN char e_cannot_use_non_null_object[]
 	INIT(= N_("E1362: Cannot use a non-null object"));
+EXTERN char e_incomplete_type[]
+	INIT(= N_("E1363: Incomplete type"));
 #endif
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_class.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_class.vim
index c228f2642b..bc8a8e1d54 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_class.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_class.vim
@@ -272,6 +272,25 @@ def Test_object_not_set()
       echo Colorscheme.new(bg).GetBackground()
   END
   v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1012: Type mismatch; expected object<Background> but got object<Unknown>')
+
+  # TODO: this should not give an error but be handled at runtime
+  lines =<< trim END
+      vim9script
+
+      class Class
+          this.id: string
+          def Method1()
+              echo 'Method1' .. this.id
+          enddef
+      endclass
+
+      var obj = null_object
+      def Func()
+          obj.Method1()
+      enddef
+      Func()
+  END
+  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1363:')
 enddef
 
 def Test_class_member_initializer()
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 1caf5b24d0..8f26bdf47a 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -695,6 +695,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    1375,
 /**/
     1374,
 /**/
diff --git a/src/vim9expr.c b/src/vim9expr.c
index b8458aa417..d600cb0ae1 100644
--- a/src/vim9expr.c
+++ b/src/vim9expr.c
@@ -293,6 +293,13 @@ compile_class_object_index(cctx_T *cctx, char_u **arg, type_T *type)
 	}
     }
 
+    if (cl == NULL)
+    {
+	// TODO: this should not give an error but be handled at runtime
+	emsg(_(e_incomplete_type));
+	return FAIL;
+    }
+
     ++*arg;
     char_u *name = *arg;
     char_u *name_end = find_name_end(name, NULL, NULL, FNE_CHECK_START);