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 2033d413c69..b968904ae47 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
@@ -1087,7 +1087,10 @@ internal class IrDeserializer(val context: Context,
     fun deserializeIrVariable(proto: KonanIr.IrVar, descriptor: VariableDescriptor, 
         start: Int, end: Int, origin: IrDeclarationOrigin): IrVariable {
 
-        val initializer = deserializeExpression(proto.getInitializer())
+        val initializer = if (proto.hasInitializer()) {
+            deserializeExpression(proto.getInitializer())
+        } else null
+
         val variable = IrVariableImpl(start, end, origin, descriptor, initializer)
 
         return variable