diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/align.c b/src/cmd/gc/align.c
index b74ac0f29f8..cf085164657 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/align.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/align.c
@@ -205,6 +205,9 @@ dowidth(Type *t)
 		checkwidth(t->down);
 		break;
 	case TFORW:		// should have been filled in
+		yyerror("invalid recursive type %T", t);
+		w = 1;	// anything will do
+		break;
 	case TANY:
 		// dummy type; should be replaced before use.
 		if(!debug['A'])
diff --git a/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c b/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
index 0fd359b3198..76147e48f02 100644
--- a/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
+++ b/src/cmd/gc/typecheck.c
@@ -1039,6 +1039,8 @@ reswitch:
 	case ODCLTYPE:
 		ok |= Etop;
 		typecheck(&n->left, Etype);
+		if(!incannedimport)
+			checkwidth(n->left->type);
 		goto ret;
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/fixedbugs/bug224.go b/test/fixedbugs/bug224.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..11ee57ecfa2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixedbugs/bug224.go
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// errchk $G $D/$F.go
+
+// Copyright 2009 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package main
+
+type T T		// ERROR "recursive"
+