diff --git a/parser/parser_impl.cpp b/parser/parser_impl.cpp
index a5c9d3e30381..99bae8817936 100644
--- a/parser/parser_impl.cpp
+++ b/parser/parser_impl.cpp
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ auto ParseTree::Parser::ParseVariableDeclaration() -> Node {
   TokenizedBuffer::Token var_token = Consume(TokenKind::VarKeyword());
   auto start = StartSubtree();
 
-  auto type = ParseExpression();
+  auto type = ParseType();
 
   auto name = ConsumeAndAddLeafNodeIf(TokenKind::Identifier(),
                                       ParseNodeKind::DeclaredName());
diff --git a/parser/parser_impl.h b/parser/parser_impl.h
index 2cf7027b2eb0..dd19afc580d7 100644
--- a/parser/parser_impl.h
+++ b/parser/parser_impl.h
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ class ParseTree::Parser {
   // Parses an expression.
   auto ParseExpression() -> llvm::Optional<Node>;
 
+  // Parses a type expression.
+  auto ParseType() -> llvm::Optional<Node> { return ParseExpression(); }
+
   // Parses an expression statement: an expression followed by a semicolon.
   auto ParseExpressionStatement() -> llvm::Optional<Node>;