diff --git a/analyzer/type.go b/analyzer/type.go
index 57bdf7a..e3345a0 100644
--- a/analyzer/type.go
+++ b/analyzer/type.go
@@ -197,8 +197,21 @@ func (analyzer analysisOperation) analyzeType (
 		bitten,
 		err = analyzer.fetchSectionFromIdentifier(inputType.Name())
 
-		outputType.actual = actual.(*TypeSection)
-		// TODO: produce an error if this doesnt work
+		if actual == nil {
+			err = inputType.NewError (
+				"this type does not exist",
+				infoerr.ErrorKindError)
+			return
+		}
+
+		var worked bool
+		outputType.actual, worked = actual.(*TypeSection)
+		if !worked {
+			err = inputType.NewError (
+				"this must refer to a type or an interface",
+				infoerr.ErrorKindError)
+			return
+		}
 		
 		if bitten.Length() > 0 {
 			err = bitten.NewError(
diff --git a/tests/analyzer/typeSection/main.arf b/tests/analyzer/typeSection/main.arf
index bd58795..b61de1d 100644
--- a/tests/analyzer/typeSection/main.arf
+++ b/tests/analyzer/typeSection/main.arf
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 :arf
+require './something'
 ---
 
 type ro aBasicInt:Int 5
@@ -8,3 +9,5 @@ type ro bOnBasicInt:aBasicInt
 type ro cBasicObject:Obj
 	ro that:Int
 	ro this:Int
+
+type ro dInheritedFromOther:something.Thing
diff --git a/tests/analyzer/typeSection/something/main.arf b/tests/analyzer/typeSection/something/main.arf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7440373
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/analyzer/typeSection/something/main.arf
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+:arf
+---
+type ro Thing:Int