diff --git a/compiler/ir/backend.js/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/backend/js/compiler.kt b/compiler/ir/backend.js/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/backend/js/compiler.kt
index c65f3e48024..046a3bb5f22 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/backend.js/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/backend/js/compiler.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/backend.js/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/backend/js/compiler.kt
@@ -187,7 +187,9 @@ fun compileIr(
             }
             irFactory.stageController = object : StageController(irFactory.stageController.currentStage) {}
         } else {
-            jsPhases.invokeToplevel(phaseConfig, context, allModules)
+            (irFactory.stageController as? WholeWorldStageController)?.let {
+                lowerPreservingTags(allModules, context, phaseConfig, it)
+            } ?: jsPhases.invokeToplevel(phaseConfig, context, allModules)
         }
     }