diff --git a/vlib/arrays/arrays_test.v b/vlib/arrays/arrays_test.v
index 1d88fcf4c4..74eb69b7d3 100644
--- a/vlib/arrays/arrays_test.v
+++ b/vlib/arrays/arrays_test.v
@@ -293,3 +293,10 @@ fn test_can_copy_bits() {
 	// map not copyable
 	assert !can_copy_bits<map[string]int>()
 }
+
+type Str = string
+
+fn test_alias_string_contains() {
+	names := [Str('')]
+	assert (Str('') in names) == true
+}
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/array.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/array.v
index 86dd3ea40b..ef32a7e9c4 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/array.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/array.v
@@ -673,7 +673,11 @@ fn (mut g Gen) gen_array_contains_methods() {
 		fn_name := '${left_type_str}_contains'
 		left_info := left_final_sym.info as ast.Array
 		mut elem_type_str := g.typ(left_info.elem_type)
-		elem_sym := g.table.sym(left_info.elem_type)
+		mut elem_sym := g.table.sym(left_info.elem_type)
+		if elem_sym.kind == .alias {
+			info := elem_sym.info as ast.Alias
+			elem_sym = g.table.sym(info.parent_type)
+		}
 		if elem_sym.kind == .function {
 			left_type_str = 'Array_voidptr'
 			elem_type_str = 'voidptr'
@@ -751,7 +755,11 @@ fn (mut g Gen) gen_array_index_methods() {
 		fn_name := '${left_type_str}_index'
 		info := final_left_sym.info as ast.Array
 		mut elem_type_str := g.typ(info.elem_type)
-		elem_sym := g.table.sym(info.elem_type)
+		mut elem_sym := g.table.sym(info.elem_type)
+		if elem_sym.kind == .alias {
+			info_t := elem_sym.info as ast.Alias
+			elem_sym = g.table.sym(info_t.parent_type)
+		}
 		if elem_sym.kind == .function {
 			left_type_str = 'Array_voidptr'
 			elem_type_str = 'voidptr'