diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_script.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_script.vim
index 91867f2..5a25147 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_script.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_script.vim
@@ -3166,6 +3166,23 @@
   &rtp = save_rtp
 enddef
 
+def Test_script_var_in_autocmd()
+  # using a script variable from an autocommand, defined in a :def function in a
+  # legacy Vim script, cannot check the variable type.
+  let lines =<< trim END
+    let s:counter = 1
+    def s:Func()
+      au! CursorHold
+      au CursorHold * s:counter += 1
+    enddef
+    call s:Func()
+    doau CursorHold
+    call assert_equal(2, s:counter)
+    au! CursorHold
+  END
+  CheckScriptSuccess(lines)
+enddef
+
 def Test_cmdline_win()
   # if the Vim syntax highlighting uses Vim9 constructs they can be used from
   # the command line window.
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 62692b8..fe2a7ad 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -755,6 +755,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    1503,
+/**/
     1502,
 /**/
     1501,
diff --git a/src/vim9script.c b/src/vim9script.c
index e04c0f0..b9dc5d7 100644
--- a/src/vim9script.c
+++ b/src/vim9script.c
@@ -564,6 +564,10 @@
     scriptitem_T    *si = SCRIPT_ITEM(current_sctx.sc_sid);
     int		    idx;
 
+    if (si->sn_version != SCRIPT_VERSION_VIM9)
+	// legacy script doesn't store variable types
+	return OK;
+
     // Find the svar_T in sn_var_vals.
     for (idx = 0; idx < si->sn_var_vals.ga_len; ++idx)
     {