diff --git a/mypy/checkexpr.py b/mypy/checkexpr.py
index 226214d85343..485e0b75ffa0 100644
--- a/mypy/checkexpr.py
+++ b/mypy/checkexpr.py
@@ -1374,6 +1374,11 @@ def visit_reveal_type_expr(self, expr: RevealTypeExpr) -> Type:
     def visit_type_application(self, tapp: TypeApplication) -> Type:
         """Type check a type application (expr[type, ...])."""
         tp = cast(CallableType, self.accept(tapp.expr))
+        if isinstance(tp, AnyType):
+            return AnyType()
+        if not hasattr(tp, 'variables'):
+            self.chk.fail('Type application targets invalid expression', tapp)
+            return AnyType()
         return self.apply_generic_arguments(tp, tapp.types, tapp)
 
     def visit_type_alias_expr(self, alias: TypeAliasExpr) -> Type: