diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/codes.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/codes.go
index f7ad2503c2..1a60ea39bb 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/codes.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/codes.go
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ const (
 	exprConvert
 	exprNew
 	exprMake
+	exprNil
 )
 
 type codeAssign int
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/reader.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/reader.go
index 8cb0df182c..4c90f9dc54 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/reader.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/reader.go
@@ -1684,6 +1684,11 @@ func (r *reader) expr() (res ir.Node) {
 		orig := r.String()
 		return typecheck.Expr(OrigConst(pos, typ, val, op, orig))
 
+	case exprNil:
+		pos := r.pos()
+		typ := r.typ()
+		return Nil(pos, typ)
+
 	case exprCompLit:
 		return r.compLit()
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/writer.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/writer.go
index 7ad87146fb..47384c6c64 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/writer.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/noder/writer.go
@@ -1413,6 +1413,13 @@ func (w *writer) expr(expr syntax.Expr) {
 			w.String(syntax.String(expr))
 			return
 		}
+
+		if _, isNil := obj.(*types2.Nil); isNil {
+			w.Code(exprNil)
+			w.pos(expr)
+			w.typ(tv.Type)
+			return
+		}
 	}
 
 	if obj != nil {