diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index 424caa69a6..15f9b64b50 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -1613,6 +1613,9 @@ fn (mut c Checker) fail_if_immutable(expr ast.Expr) (string, token.Position) {
 }
 
 fn (mut c Checker) type_implements(typ ast.Type, interface_type ast.Type, pos token.Position) bool {
+	if typ == interface_type {
+		return true
+	}
 	$if debug_interface_type_implements ? {
 		eprintln('> type_implements typ: $typ.debug() (`${c.table.type_to_str(typ)}`) | inter_typ: $interface_type.debug() (`${c.table.type_to_str(interface_type)}`)')
 	}
@@ -1642,6 +1645,10 @@ fn (mut c Checker) type_implements(typ ast.Type, interface_type ast.Type, pos to
 			}
 		}
 		if inter_sym.info.is_generic {
+			if inferred_type == interface_type {
+				// terminate early, since otherwise we get an infinite recursion/segfault:
+				return false
+			}
 			return c.type_implements(typ, inferred_type, pos)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/interface_generic_err.out b/vlib/v/checker/tests/interface_generic_err.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f0a6c42c66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/interface_generic_err.out
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+vlib/v/checker/tests/interface_generic_err.vv:7:9: error: generic struct init must specify type parameter, e.g. Foo<int>
+    5 | 
+    6 | // no segfault without generic
+    7 | what := What{}
+      |         ~~~~~~
+    8 | why := Why(what)
+vlib/v/checker/tests/interface_generic_err.vv:8:8: error: could not infer generic type `T` in interface
+    6 | // no segfault without generic
+    7 | what := What{}
+    8 | why := Why(what)
+      |        ~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/interface_generic_err.vv b/vlib/v/checker/tests/interface_generic_err.vv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7c6b2b4286
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/interface_generic_err.vv
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+struct What<T> {}
+
+// with or without generic
+interface Why<T> {}
+
+// no segfault without generic
+what := What{}
+why := Why(what)