diff --git a/src/resolver.ts b/src/resolver.ts
index 84a3fde3..33f5f883 100644
--- a/src/resolver.ts
+++ b/src/resolver.ts
@@ -196,6 +196,14 @@ export class Resolver extends DiagnosticEmitter {
         (type = typesLookup.get(localName)) ||
         (type = typesLookup.get(globalName))
       ) {
+        if (!type.is(TypeFlags.REFERENCE) && node.isNullable) {
+          if (reportMode == ReportMode.REPORT) {
+            this.error(
+              DiagnosticCode.Basic_type_0_cannot_be_nullable,
+              node.range, type.toString()
+            );
+          }
+        }
         return type;
       }
     }
diff --git a/tests/compiler/basic-nullable.ts b/tests/compiler/basic-nullable.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e3c9f36f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compiler/basic-nullable.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+var a: i32 | null;
+// Expect error: AS204
diff --git a/tests/compiler/basic-nullable.untouched.wat b/tests/compiler/basic-nullable.untouched.wat
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b