diff --git a/lib/irb/completion.rb b/lib/irb/completion.rb
index 187e44029..b3813e893 100644
--- a/lib/irb/completion.rb
+++ b/lib/irb/completion.rb
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ def retrieve_completion_data(input, bind:, doc_namespace:)
           vars = (bind.local_variables | bind.eval_instance_variables).collect{|m| m.to_s}
           perfect_match_var = vars.find{|m| m.to_s == input}
           if perfect_match_var
-            eval("#{perfect_match_var}.class.name", bind)
+            eval("#{perfect_match_var}.class.name", bind) rescue nil
           else
             candidates = (bind.eval_methods | bind.eval_private_methods | bind.local_variables | bind.eval_instance_variables | bind.eval_class_constants).collect{|m| m.to_s}
             candidates |= ReservedWords