diff --git a/plugins/kotlin-serialization/kotlin-serialization-compiler/src/org/jetbrains/kotlinx/serialization/compiler/backend/ir/GeneratorHelpers.kt b/plugins/kotlin-serialization/kotlin-serialization-compiler/src/org/jetbrains/kotlinx/serialization/compiler/backend/ir/GeneratorHelpers.kt
index 1a8c88a0f0d..a7a67365278 100644
--- a/plugins/kotlin-serialization/kotlin-serialization-compiler/src/org/jetbrains/kotlinx/serialization/compiler/backend/ir/GeneratorHelpers.kt
+++ b/plugins/kotlin-serialization/kotlin-serialization-compiler/src/org/jetbrains/kotlinx/serialization/compiler/backend/ir/GeneratorHelpers.kt
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ interface IrBuilderExtension {
     fun KotlinType.toIrType() = compilerContext.typeTranslator.translateType(this)
 
     // note: this method should be used only for properties from current module. Fields from other modules are private and inaccessible.
-    val SerializableProperty.irField: IrField get() = compilerContext.symbolTable.referenceField(this.descriptor).owner
+    val SerializableProperty.irField: IrField? get() = compilerContext.symbolTable.referenceField(this.descriptor).let {  if (it.isBound) it.owner else null }
 
     fun IrClass.searchForProperty(descriptor: PropertyDescriptor): IrProperty {
         // this API is used to reference both current module descriptors and external ones (because serializable class can be in any of them),
@@ -1260,11 +1260,12 @@ interface IrBuilderExtension {
 
             // check for call to .shouldEncodeElementDefault
             val encodeDefaults = property.getIrPropertyFrom(serializableIrClass).getEncodeDefaultAnnotationValue()
-            if (!property.optional || encodeDefaults == true) {
+            val field = property.irField // Nullable when property from another module; can't compare it with default value on JS or Native
+            if (!property.optional || encodeDefaults == true || field == null) {
                 // emit call right away
                 +elementCall
             } else {
-                val partB = irNotEquals(property.irGet(), initializerAdapter(property.irField.initializer!!))
+                val partB = irNotEquals(property.irGet(), initializerAdapter(field.initializer!!))
 
                 val condition = if (encodeDefaults == false) {
                     // drop default without call to .shouldEncodeElementDefault
diff --git a/plugins/kotlin-serialization/kotlin-serialization-compiler/src/org/jetbrains/kotlinx/serialization/compiler/backend/ir/SerializableIrGenerator.kt b/plugins/kotlin-serialization/kotlin-serialization-compiler/src/org/jetbrains/kotlinx/serialization/compiler/backend/ir/SerializableIrGenerator.kt
index 828a36fb77a..e12f1fbf61a 100644
--- a/plugins/kotlin-serialization/kotlin-serialization-compiler/src/org/jetbrains/kotlinx/serialization/compiler/backend/ir/SerializableIrGenerator.kt
+++ b/plugins/kotlin-serialization/kotlin-serialization-compiler/src/org/jetbrains/kotlinx/serialization/compiler/backend/ir/SerializableIrGenerator.kt
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ class SerializableIrGenerator(
 
                 val ifNotSeenExpr: IrExpression = if (prop.optional) {
                     val initializerBody =
-                        requireNotNull(initializerAdapter(prop.irField.initializer!!)) { "Optional value without an initializer" } // todo: filter abstract here
+                        requireNotNull(initializerAdapter(prop.irField?.initializer!!)) { "Optional value without an initializer" } // todo: filter abstract here
                     irSetField(irGet(thiz), backingFieldToAssign, initializerBody)
                 } else {
                     // property required