diff --git a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Phases.scala b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Phases.scala
index 4b2861452d0c..2a606f64ea4e 100644
--- a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Phases.scala
+++ b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Phases.scala
@@ -35,7 +35,12 @@ trait Phases {
   def atNextPhase[T](op: Context => T): T = atPhase(phase.next)(op)
 
   def atPhaseNotLaterThan[T](limit: Phase)(op: Context => T): T =
-    if (!limit.exists || phase <= limit) op(this) else atPhase(limit)(op)
+    if ((limit eq null) || !limit.exists || phase <= limit) op(this) else atPhase(limit)(op)
+    // limit can be null if we're initializing definitions and phase-caches return null
+    // or if phase is simply absent and all phases are "before".
+
+  def atPhaseBefore[T](limit: Phase)(op: Context => T): T =
+    if ((limit eq null) || !limit.exists || phase < limit) op(this) else atPhase(limit.prev)(op)
 
   def atPhaseNotLaterThanTyper[T](op: Context => T): T =
     atPhaseNotLaterThan(base.typerPhase)(op)
@@ -342,6 +347,9 @@ object Phases {
     final def <=(that: Phase) =
       exists && id <= that.id
 
+    final def <(that: Phase) =
+      exists && id <= that.id
+
     final def prev: Phase =
       if (id > FirstPhaseId) myBase.phases(start - 1) else myBase.NoPhase
 
diff --git a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/SymDenotations.scala b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/SymDenotations.scala
index 47ec541ab84c..6e3c424361cf 100644
--- a/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/SymDenotations.scala
+++ b/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/SymDenotations.scala
@@ -527,11 +527,18 @@ object SymDenotations {
 
     /** Is this denotation static (i.e. with no outer instance)? */
     final def isStatic(implicit ctx: Context) =
-      (this is JavaStatic) || this.exists && owner.isStaticOwner || this.isRoot
+      ctx.addMode(Mode.FutureDefsOK).atPhaseBefore(ctx.lambdaLiftPhase) { implicit ctx =>
+        (current.asSymDenotation is JavaStatic) ||
+          this.exists && current.asSymDenotation.owner.isStaticOwner ||
+          this.isRoot
+      }
 
     /** Is this a package class or module class that defines static symbols? */
     final def isStaticOwner(implicit ctx: Context): Boolean =
-      (this is PackageClass) || (this is ModuleClass) && isStatic
+      ctx.addMode(Mode.FutureDefsOK).atPhaseBefore(ctx.lambdaLiftPhase) { implicit ctx =>
+        (current.asSymDenotation is PackageClass) ||
+          (current.asSymDenotation is ModuleClass) && current.asSymDenotation.isStatic
+      }
 
     /** Is this denotation defined in the same scope and compilation unit as that symbol? */
     final def isCoDefinedWith(that: Symbol)(implicit ctx: Context) =