diff --git a/compiler/ir/backend.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/extensions/IrPluginContextImpl.kt b/compiler/ir/backend.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/extensions/IrPluginContextImpl.kt
index 8c808b4722e..1717527f1ca 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/backend.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/extensions/IrPluginContextImpl.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/backend.common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/backend/common/extensions/IrPluginContextImpl.kt
@@ -78,12 +78,7 @@ open class IrPluginContextImpl(
     override fun referenceClass(fqName: FqName): IrClassSymbol? {
         assert(!fqName.isRoot)
         return resolveSymbol(fqName.parent()) { scope ->
-            val classifierDescriptor = scope.getContributedClassifier(fqName.shortName(), NoLookupLocation.FROM_BACKEND)
-            val classDescriptor = when (classifierDescriptor) {
-                is ClassDescriptor -> classifierDescriptor
-                is TypeAliasDescriptor -> classifierDescriptor.classDescriptor
-                else -> error("Unexpected classifier $classifierDescriptor")
-            }
+            val classDescriptor = scope.getContributedClassifier(fqName.shortName(), NoLookupLocation.FROM_BACKEND) as? ClassDescriptor?
             classDescriptor?.let {
                 st.referenceClass(it)
             }