diff --git a/compiler/mono/src/ir.rs b/compiler/mono/src/ir.rs
index fcd5d2ab0f..660ae0b0cb 100644
--- a/compiler/mono/src/ir.rs
+++ b/compiler/mono/src/ir.rs
@@ -5867,7 +5867,9 @@ pub fn from_can<'a>(
                     Err(_) => todo!(),
                 };
 
-            if let Pattern::Identifier(_symbol) = mono_pattern {
+            if matches!(mono_pattern, Pattern::Identifier(_symbol))
+                || matches!(def.loc_expr.value, roc_can::expr::Expr::Var(..))
+            {
                 internal_error!("Identifier patterns should be handled in a higher code pass!")
             }
 
@@ -5895,23 +5897,19 @@ pub fn from_can<'a>(
                 );
             }
 
-            if let roc_can::expr::Expr::Var(outer_symbol) = def.loc_expr.value {
-                store_pattern(env, procs, layout_cache, &mono_pattern, outer_symbol, stmt)
-            } else {
-                let outer_symbol = env.unique_symbol();
-                stmt = store_pattern(env, procs, layout_cache, &mono_pattern, outer_symbol, stmt);
+            let outer_symbol = env.unique_symbol();
+            stmt = store_pattern(env, procs, layout_cache, &mono_pattern, outer_symbol, stmt);
 
-                // convert the def body, store in outer_symbol
-                with_hole(
-                    env,
-                    def.loc_expr.value,
-                    def.expr_var,
-                    procs,
-                    layout_cache,
-                    outer_symbol,
-                    env.arena.alloc(stmt),
-                )
-            }
+            // convert the def body, store in outer_symbol
+            with_hole(
+                env,
+                def.loc_expr.value,
+                def.expr_var,
+                procs,
+                layout_cache,
+                outer_symbol,
+                env.arena.alloc(stmt),
+            )
         }
 
         _ => {