diff --git a/src/library/compiler/erase_irrelevant.cpp b/src/library/compiler/erase_irrelevant.cpp
index c5ca6c9c31..a035445aba 100644
--- a/src/library/compiler/erase_irrelevant.cpp
+++ b/src/library/compiler/erase_irrelevant.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class erase_irrelevant_fn : public compiler_step_visitor {
     }
 
     expr erase_type(expr const & e) {
-        if (closed(e))
+        if (closed(e) && !has_local(e))
             return e; // keep closed types for runtime debugger
         else
             return *g_neutral_expr;