diff --git a/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/ClassMethod/ReturnTypeFromGetRepositoryDocblockRector.php b/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/ClassMethod/ReturnTypeFromGetRepositoryDocblockRector.php
index b02fd6b2e4e..cb0c6e85f25 100644
--- a/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/ClassMethod/ReturnTypeFromGetRepositoryDocblockRector.php
+++ b/rules/TypeDeclaration/Rector/ClassMethod/ReturnTypeFromGetRepositoryDocblockRector.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 namespace Rector\TypeDeclaration\Rector\ClassMethod;
 
+use PhpParser\Comment\Doc;
 use PhpParser\Node;
 use PhpParser\Node\Expr\Assign;
 use PhpParser\Node\Expr\MethodCall;
@@ -101,6 +102,11 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
             return null;
         }
 
+        // the native type is read from the @return docblock; skip before scope fetch when there is none
+        if (!$node->getDocComment() instanceof Doc) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
         if (! $this->isGetRepositoryReturnOnly($node)) {
             return null;
         }