diff --git a/lib/ex_doc/retriever.ex b/lib/ex_doc/retriever.ex
index 5525d1f30..6b713e106 100644
--- a/lib/ex_doc/retriever.ex
+++ b/lib/ex_doc/retriever.ex
@@ -369,6 +369,8 @@ defmodule ExDoc.Retriever do
 
   defp to_var({name, meta, _}, _) when is_atom(name),
     do: {name, meta, nil}
+  defp to_var([{:->, _, _} | _], _),
+    do: {:function, [], nil}
   defp to_var({:<<>>, _, _}, _),
     do: {:binary, [], nil}
   defp to_var({:%{}, _, _}, _),