diff --git a/compiler/fir/raw-fir/psi2fir/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/fir/builder/RawFirBuilder.kt b/compiler/fir/raw-fir/psi2fir/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/fir/builder/RawFirBuilder.kt
index da23518720f..564bc016097 100644
--- a/compiler/fir/raw-fir/psi2fir/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/fir/builder/RawFirBuilder.kt
+++ b/compiler/fir/raw-fir/psi2fir/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/fir/builder/RawFirBuilder.kt
@@ -1349,7 +1349,7 @@ class RawFirBuilder(
                     source = projectionSource
                 }
             }
-            if (projectionKind == KtProjectionKind.NONE && typeProjection.text == "_") {
+            if (projectionKind == KtProjectionKind.NONE && !stubMode && typeProjection.text == "_") {
                 return FirTypePlaceholderProjection
             }
             val typeReference = typeProjection.typeReference