diff --git a/src/vim9compile.c b/src/vim9compile.c
index d630736..3a717e4 100644
--- a/src/vim9compile.c
+++ b/src/vim9compile.c
@@ -7932,8 +7932,11 @@
 	    if (lhs_type == &t_any)
 		lhs_type = item_type;
 	    else if (item_type != &t_unknown
-		       && !(var_list && item_type == &t_any)
-		       && check_type(lhs_type, item_type, TRUE, where) == FAIL)
+			&& ((var_list && item_type == &t_any)
+			  ? need_type(item_type, lhs_type,
+						     -1, 0, cctx, FALSE, FALSE)
+			  : check_type(lhs_type, item_type, TRUE, where))
+			== FAIL)
 		goto failed;
 	    var_lvar = reserve_local(cctx, arg, varlen, TRUE, lhs_type);
 	    if (var_lvar == NULL)