diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index 4d033c589b..16a200db45 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -4804,12 +4804,16 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) if_expr(mut node ast.IfExpr) table.Type {
 			mut comptime_field_name := ''
 			if branch.cond is ast.InfixExpr {
 				if branch.cond.op == .key_is {
-					left := branch.cond.left
+					if branch.cond.right !is ast.Type {
+						c.error('invalid `\$if` condition: expected a type', branch.cond.right.position())
+						return 0
+					}
 					got_type := c.unwrap_generic((branch.cond.right as ast.Type).typ)
 					sym := c.table.get_type_symbol(got_type)
 					if sym.kind == .placeholder || got_type.has_flag(.generic) {
 						c.error('unknown type `$sym.name`', branch.cond.right.position())
 					}
+					left := branch.cond.left
 					if left is ast.SelectorExpr {
 						comptime_field_name = left.expr.str()
 						c.comptime_fields_type[comptime_field_name] = got_type
@@ -4968,11 +4972,13 @@ fn (mut c Checker) comp_if_branch(cond ast.Expr, pos token.Position) bool {
 					return l && r // skip (return true) only if both should be skipped
 				}
 				.key_is, .not_is {
-					if (cond.left is ast.SelectorExpr || cond.left is ast.Type)
-						&& cond.right is ast.Type {
+					if cond.left is ast.SelectorExpr || cond.left is ast.Type {
 						// $if method.@type is string
+						c.expr(cond.left)
+						return false
 					} else {
-						c.error('invalid `\$if` condition: $cond.left', cond.pos)
+						c.error('invalid `\$if` condition: expected a type or selector expression',
+							cond.left.position())
 					}
 				}
 				.eq, .ne {
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.out b/vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.out
index d8d874ad2d..a778c309fe 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.out
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.out
@@ -11,3 +11,32 @@ vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv:8:6: error: definition of `bar` is
     8 |     $if bar == 0 {}
       |         ~~~
     9 | }
+   10 |
+vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv:13:6: error: undefined ident: `huh`
+   11 | fn if_is() {
+   12 |     s := S1{}
+   13 |     $if huh.typ is T {}
+      |         ~~~
+   14 |     $if s is int {}
+   15 |     $if s.i is 5 {}
+vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv:14:6: error: invalid `$if` condition: expected a type or selector expression
+   12 |     s := S1{}
+   13 |     $if huh.typ is T {}
+   14 |     $if s is int {}
+      |         ^
+   15 |     $if s.i is 5 {}
+   16 |     $if s.i is T {}
+vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv:15:13: error: invalid `$if` condition: expected a type
+   13 |     $if huh.typ is T {}
+   14 |     $if s is int {}
+   15 |     $if s.i is 5 {}
+      |                ^
+   16 |     $if s.i is T {}
+   17 | }
+vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv:16:13: error: unknown type `T`
+   14 |     $if s is int {}
+   15 |     $if s.i is 5 {}
+   16 |     $if s.i is T {}
+      |                ^
+   17 | }
+   18 |
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv b/vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv
index fb92811bca..c3734aeb8b 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/unknown_comptime_expr.vv
@@ -7,3 +7,16 @@ fn main() {
 	bar := unknown_at_ct()
 	$if bar == 0 {}
 }
+
+fn if_is() {
+	s := S1{}
+	$if huh.typ is T {}
+	$if s is int {}
+	$if s.i is 5 {}
+	$if s.i is T {}
+}
+
+struct S1 {
+	i int
+}
+