diff --git a/src/compiler/checker.ts b/src/compiler/checker.ts
index 65f507c13c0..3fd42865c32 100644
--- a/src/compiler/checker.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/checker.ts
@@ -14058,8 +14058,16 @@ namespace ts {
             if (!(links.flags & NodeCheckFlags.TypeChecked)) {
                 // Check whether the file has declared it is the default lib,
                 // and whether the user has specifically chosen to avoid checking it.
-                if (node.isDefaultLib && compilerOptions.skipDefaultLibCheck) {
-                    return;
+                if (compilerOptions.skipDefaultLibCheck) {
+                    if (node.isDefaultLib) {
+                        return;
+                    }
+
+                    // If the user specified '--noLib' and a file has a `/// <reference no-default-lib="true"/>,
+                    // then we should treat that file as a default lib.
+                    if (compilerOptions.noLib && node.hasNoDefaultLib) {
+                        return;
+                    }
                 }
 
                 // Grammar checking