diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/tpd.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/tpd.scala
index 365dac55f80e..f6ec2704b967 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/tpd.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/tpd.scala
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ object tpd extends Trees.Instance[Type] with TypedTreeInfo {
         Typed(tree, TypeTree(defn.AnyRefType))
       }
       else tree.ensureConforms(defn.ObjectType)
-      receiver.select(defn.Object_ne).appliedTo(nullLiteral)
+      receiver.select(defn.Object_ne).appliedTo(nullLiteral).withSpan(tree.span)
     }
 
     /** If inititializer tree is `_', the default value of its type,