diff --git a/src/codegen/llvm.zig b/src/codegen/llvm.zig
index 734a5de78ef6aa2e2c5b8b7a852ba6ecd09ce745..e9dccb4009c4c4a98211cfdd867422539abaee1c 100644
--- a/src/codegen/llvm.zig
+++ b/src/codegen/llvm.zig
@@ -1383,6 +1383,7 @@ pub const DeclGen = struct {
         ptr_val: Value,
         decl: *Module.Decl,
     ) Error!ParentPtr {
+        decl.alive = true;
         var ptr_ty_payload: Type.Payload.ElemType = .{
             .base = .{ .tag = .single_mut_pointer },
             .data = decl.ty,