diff --git a/Compiler/src/abstractinterpretation.jl b/Compiler/src/abstractinterpretation.jl
index 6b409f057eadf..208757be3ba37 100644
--- a/Compiler/src/abstractinterpretation.jl
+++ b/Compiler/src/abstractinterpretation.jl
@@ -872,11 +872,12 @@ function abstract_call_method_with_const_args(interp::AbstractInterpreter,
     concrete_eval_result = nothing
     if eligibility === :concrete_eval
         concrete_eval_result = concrete_eval_call(interp, f, result, arginfo, sv, invokecall)
-        # if we don't inline the result of this concrete evaluation,
-        # give const-prop' a chance to inline a better method body
-        if !may_optimize(interp) || (
-            may_inline_concrete_result(concrete_eval_result.const_result::ConcreteResult) ||
-            concrete_eval_result.rt === Bottom) # unless this call deterministically throws and thus is non-inlineable
+        if (concrete_eval_result !== nothing &&  # allow external abstract interpreters to disable concrete evaluation ad-hoc
+            # if we don't inline the result of this concrete evaluation,
+            # give const-prop' a chance to inline a better method body
+            (!may_optimize(interp) ||
+             may_inline_concrete_result(concrete_eval_result.const_result::ConcreteResult) ||
+             concrete_eval_result.rt === Bottom)) # unless this call deterministically throws and thus is non-inlineable
             return concrete_eval_result
         end
         # TODO allow semi-concrete interp for this call?