diff --git a/DataFormats/Common/src/setIsMergeable.cc b/DataFormats/Common/src/setIsMergeable.cc
index 60abcf0427f01..3ed459e22ab82 100644
--- a/DataFormats/Common/src/setIsMergeable.cc
+++ b/DataFormats/Common/src/setIsMergeable.cc
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ namespace edm {
     // was already set.
     // Set it only for branches that are present
     if (desc.present() and (desc.branchType() == InRun or desc.branchType() == InLumi)) {
-      if (!desc.isMergeable()) {
+      if (!desc.isMergeable() && !desc.wrappedType().invalidTypeInfo()) {
         TClass* wrapperBaseTClass = TypeWithDict::byName("edm::WrapperBase").getClass();
         TClass* tClass = desc.wrappedType().getClass();
         void* p = tClass->New();