diff --git a/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/serialization/KonanIr.proto b/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/serialization/KonanIr.proto
index 926eebc03ae..e0d63af3e37 100644
--- a/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/serialization/KonanIr.proto
+++ b/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/serialization/KonanIr.proto
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ message IrBlockBody {
 }
 
 message IrCatch {
-    required KotlinDescriptor parameter = 1;
+    required IrDeclaration catch_parameter = 1;
     required IrExpression result = 2;
 }
 
diff --git a/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/serialization/SerializeIr.kt b/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/serialization/SerializeIr.kt
index bb34ecf419e..60500b62fbc 100644
--- a/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/serialization/SerializeIr.kt
+++ b/backend.native/compiler/ir/backend.native/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/konan/serialization/SerializeIr.kt
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ internal class IrSerializer(val context: Context,
 
     fun serializeCatch(catch: IrCatch): KonanIr.IrCatch {
         val proto = KonanIr.IrCatch.newBuilder()
-           .setParameter(serializeDescriptor(catch.parameter))
+           .setCatchParameter(serializeDeclaration(catch.catchParameter))
            .setResult(serializeExpression(catch.result))
         return proto.build()
     }
@@ -708,8 +708,7 @@ internal class IrDeserializer(val context: Context,
     }
 
     fun deserializeCatch(proto: KonanIr.IrCatch, start: Int, end: Int): IrCatch {
-        val parameter = deserializeDescriptor(proto.getParameter()) as VariableDescriptor
-        val catchParameter = IrVariableImpl(start, end, IrDeclarationOrigin.CATCH_PARAMETER, parameter)
+        val catchParameter = deserializeDeclaration(proto.catchParameter) as IrVariable
         val result = deserializeExpression(proto.getResult())
 
         return IrCatchImpl(start, end, catchParameter, result)