diff --git a/compiler/ir/serialization.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/serialization/IrFileSerializer.kt b/compiler/ir/serialization.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/serialization/IrFileSerializer.kt
index 4631bd6f7b4..a2c249bfb50 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/serialization.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/serialization/IrFileSerializer.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/serialization.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/serialization/IrFileSerializer.kt
@@ -992,7 +992,7 @@ open class IrFileSerializer(
     }
 
     private fun serializeIrDeclarationBase(declaration: IrDeclaration): ProtoDeclarationBase {
-        expectActualTable.findExpectsForActuals(declaration)
+        if (!skipExpects) expectActualTable.findExpectsForActuals(declaration)
         return ProtoDeclarationBase.newBuilder()
             .setSymbol(serializeIrSymbol((declaration as IrSymbolOwner).symbol))
             .setCoordinates(serializeCoordinates(declaration.startOffset, declaration.endOffset))