diff --git a/j2k/newSrc/org/jetbrains/kotlin/j2k/conversions/RecursiveApplicableConversionBase.kt b/j2k/newSrc/org/jetbrains/kotlin/j2k/conversions/RecursiveApplicableConversionBase.kt
index 0e7ed413bfd..e55b698ae5c 100644
--- a/j2k/newSrc/org/jetbrains/kotlin/j2k/conversions/RecursiveApplicableConversionBase.kt
+++ b/j2k/newSrc/org/jetbrains/kotlin/j2k/conversions/RecursiveApplicableConversionBase.kt
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ abstract class RecursiveApplicableConversionBase : MatchBasedConversion() {
 
     abstract fun applyToElement(element: JKTreeElement): JKTreeElement
 
-    inline fun recurse(element: JKTreeElement): JKTreeElement {
+    inline fun <T : JKTreeElement> recurse(element: T): T {
         return applyRecursive(element, ::applyToElement)
     }
 }
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