diff --git a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/transform/LiftCode.scala b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/transform/LiftCode.scala
index f3249e757..e9caeb4dd 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/transform/LiftCode.scala
+++ b/src/compiler/scala/tools/nsc/transform/LiftCode.scala
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ abstract class LiftCode extends Transform with TypingTransformers {
             val symClass = symTpe.typeSymbol
             atPhase(phase.next) {
               def refType(valueRef: Map[Symbol, Symbol], objectRefClass: Symbol) =
-                if (isValueClass(symClass)) valueRef(symClass).tpe
+                if (isValueClass(symClass) && symClass != UnitClass) valueRef(symClass).tpe
                 else appliedType(objectRefClass.typeConstructor, List(symTpe))
 
               sym updateInfo (
diff --git a/test/files/pos/t5245.scala b/test/files/pos/t5245.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3a4b4d286
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/files/pos/t5245.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+object Foo {
+  def bar = { var x = (); def foo() = x }
+}
\ No newline at end of file