diff --git a/stew/objects.nim b/stew/objects.nim
index 030e7ea..85983ab 100644
--- a/stew/objects.nim
+++ b/stew/objects.nim
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ func declval*(T: type): T {.compileTime.} =
   ## 2. It will work for types that lack a valid default value due
   ##    to `not nil` or `requiresInit` requirements.
   ##
+  doAssert false,
+    "declvar should be used only in `typeof` expressions and concepts"
   default(ptr T)[]
 
 when not compiles(len((1, 2))):
diff --git a/tests/test_objects.nim b/tests/test_objects.nim
index add637f..1fcd400 100644
--- a/tests/test_objects.nim
+++ b/tests/test_objects.nim
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import
 when defined(nimHasUsed):
   {.used.}
 
+{.experimental: "notnil".}
+
 suite "Objects":
   test "baseType":
     type
@@ -36,19 +38,30 @@ suite "Objects":
       f(bar)
 
   test "declval":
+    type
+      Bar = object
+        x: RootRef not nil
+
     proc foo(x: int): string =
       discard
 
     proc foo(x: var int): float =
       discard
 
+    proc foo(x: Bar): int =
+      discard
+
     type
       T1 = typeof foo(declval(int))
       T2 = typeof foo(declval(var int))
       T3 = typeof foo(declval(lent int))
+      T4 = typeof foo(declval(Bar))
+      T5 = typeof foo(declval(var Bar))
 
     check:
       T1 is string
       T2 is float
       T3 is string
+      T4 is int
+      T5 is int