diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Implicits.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Implicits.scala
index 58323f708144..108ede2aa509 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Implicits.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Implicits.scala
@@ -432,6 +432,7 @@ object Implicits:
 
   /** A failed search */
   case class SearchFailure(tree: Tree) extends SearchResult {
+    require(tree.tpe.isInstanceOf[SearchFailureType], s"unexpected type for ${tree}")
     final def isAmbiguous: Boolean = tree.tpe.isInstanceOf[AmbiguousImplicits | TooUnspecific]
     final def reason: SearchFailureType = tree.tpe.asInstanceOf[SearchFailureType]
   }
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
index ed688d182913..66c79658b6ab 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
@@ -3625,8 +3625,9 @@ class Typer(@constructorOnly nestingLevel: Int = 0) extends Namer
       val remembered = // report AmbiguousReferences as priority, otherwise last error
         (errs.filter(_.msg.isInstanceOf[AmbiguousReference]) ++ errs).take(1)
       for err <- remembered do
+        val tree = if app.isEmpty then qual else app
         rememberSearchFailure(qual,
-          SearchFailure(app.withType(FailedExtension(app, selectionProto, err.msg))))
+          SearchFailure(tree.withType(FailedExtension(tree, selectionProto, err.msg))))
     catch case ex: TypeError => nestedFailure(ex)
 
     // try an implicit conversion or given extension