diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types.rs
index 391be573e679d7..75eb6688f5d4c3 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types.rs
@@ -192,12 +192,7 @@ fn definition_expression_ty<'db>(
     if let Some(ty) = inference.try_expression_ty(expr_id) {
         ty
     } else {
-        infer_deferred_types(db, definition)
-            .try_expression_ty(expr_id)
-            .unwrap_or(
-                // Some deferred cases like string annotations are not yet implemented
-                Type::Todo,
-            )
+        infer_deferred_types(db, definition).expression_ty(expr_id)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
index c07472c5bbe85e..3ca48dddaa8945 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
@@ -3655,7 +3655,10 @@ impl<'db> TypeInferenceBuilder<'db> {
             // TODO: parse the expression and check whether it is a string annotation, since they
             // can be annotation expressions distinct from type expressions.
             // https://typing.readthedocs.io/en/latest/spec/annotations.html#string-annotations
-            ast::Expr::StringLiteral(_literal) => Type::Todo,
+            ast::Expr::StringLiteral(_literal) => {
+                self.store_expression_type(expression, Type::Todo);
+                Type::Todo
+            }
 
             // Annotation expressions also get special handling for `*args` and `**kwargs`.
             ast::Expr::Starred(starred) => self.infer_starred_expression(starred),