diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/TypeComparer.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/TypeComparer.scala
index acb545efdca4..c42db67be990 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/TypeComparer.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/TypeComparer.scala
@@ -210,9 +210,9 @@ class TypeComparer(initctx: Context) extends ConstraintHandling[AbsentContext] w
           case t: LazyRef =>
             // Dereference a lazyref to detect underlying matching types, but
             // be careful not to get into an infinite recursion. If recursion count
-            // exceeds `DerefLimit`, approximate with `NoType` instead.
+            // exceeds `DerefLimit`, approximate with `t` instead.
             derefCount += 1
-            if (derefCount >= DerefLimit) NoType
+            if t.evaluating || derefCount >= DerefLimit then t
             else try mapOver(t.ref) finally derefCount -= 1
           case tp: TypeVar =>
             tp
diff --git a/tests/pos-deep-subtype/i5876.scala b/tests/pos-deep-subtype/i5876.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e8a510135dc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/pos-deep-subtype/i5876.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+type HasThisB[T] = HasThis { type This <: T }
+trait HasThis {
+  type This >: this.type <: HasThisB[This]
+}
+
+type FB[T] = F { type This <: T }
+class F extends HasThis {
+  type This >: this.type <: FB[This]
+}
\ No newline at end of file