diff --git a/mypy/checker.py b/mypy/checker.py
index 9b0a728552e6..a177d00e8202 100644
--- a/mypy/checker.py
+++ b/mypy/checker.py
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ def check_overlapping_overloads(self, defn: OverloadedFuncDef) -> None:
                 assert isinstance(inner_type, CallableType)
                 impl_type = inner_type
 
-        is_descriptor_get = defn.info is not None and defn.name() == "__get__"
+        is_descriptor_get = defn.info and defn.name() == "__get__"
         for i, item in enumerate(defn.items):
             # TODO overloads involving decorators
             assert isinstance(item, Decorator)
@@ -979,7 +979,7 @@ def check_reverse_op_method(self, defn: FuncItem,
         # just decides whether it's worth calling
         # check_overlapping_op_methods().
 
-        assert defn.info is not None
+        assert defn.info
 
         # First check for a valid signature
         method_type = CallableType([AnyType(TypeOfAny.special_form),
@@ -2765,7 +2765,7 @@ def check_for_untyped_decorator(self,
             self.msg.typed_function_untyped_decorator(func.name(), dec_expr)
 
     def check_incompatible_property_override(self, e: Decorator) -> None:
-        if not e.var.is_settable_property and e.func.info is not None:
+        if not e.var.is_settable_property and e.func.info:
             name = e.func.name()
             for base in e.func.info.mro[1:]:
                 base_attr = base.names.get(name)
@@ -3322,7 +3322,7 @@ def enter_partial_types(self, *, is_function: bool = False,
                     var.type = AnyType(TypeOfAny.from_error)
 
     def is_defined_in_base_class(self, var: Var) -> bool:
-        if var.info is not None:
+        if var.info:
             for base in var.info.mro[1:]:
                 if base.get(var.name()) is not None:
                     return True
diff --git a/mypy/fastparse.py b/mypy/fastparse.py
index e7d4f5253fcb..4fe4d65f781c 100644
--- a/mypy/fastparse.py
+++ b/mypy/fastparse.py
@@ -23,10 +23,11 @@
     AwaitExpr, TempNode, Expression, Statement,
     ARG_POS, ARG_OPT, ARG_STAR, ARG_NAMED, ARG_NAMED_OPT, ARG_STAR2,
     check_arg_names,
+    FakeInfo,
 )
 from mypy.types import (
     Type, CallableType, AnyType, UnboundType, TupleType, TypeList, EllipsisType, CallableArgument,
-    TypeOfAny
+    TypeOfAny, Instance,
 )
 from mypy import defaults
 from mypy import messages
@@ -59,7 +60,8 @@
 
 # There is no way to create reasonable fallbacks at this stage,
 # they must be patched later.
-_dummy_fallback = None  # type: Any
+MISSING_FALLBACK = FakeInfo("fallback can't be filled out until semanal")
+_dummy_fallback = Instance(MISSING_FALLBACK, [], -1)
 
 TYPE_COMMENT_SYNTAX_ERROR = 'syntax error in type comment'
 TYPE_COMMENT_AST_ERROR = 'invalid type comment or annotation'
diff --git a/mypy/fastparse2.py b/mypy/fastparse2.py
index 5d17fe9479ff..d4a86aa59150 100644
--- a/mypy/fastparse2.py
+++ b/mypy/fastparse2.py
@@ -34,9 +34,10 @@
     SetComprehension, ComplexExpr, EllipsisExpr, YieldExpr, Argument,
     Expression, Statement, BackquoteExpr, PrintStmt, ExecStmt,
     ARG_POS, ARG_OPT, ARG_STAR, ARG_NAMED, ARG_STAR2, OverloadPart, check_arg_names,
+    FakeInfo,
 )
 from mypy.types import (
-    Type, CallableType, AnyType, UnboundType, EllipsisType, TypeOfAny
+    Type, CallableType, AnyType, UnboundType, EllipsisType, TypeOfAny, Instance,
 )
 from mypy import messages
 from mypy.errors import Errors
@@ -70,7 +71,8 @@
 
 # There is no way to create reasonable fallbacks at this stage,
 # they must be patched later.
-_dummy_fallback = None  # type: Any
+MISSING_FALLBACK = FakeInfo("fallback can't be filled out until semanal")
+_dummy_fallback = Instance(MISSING_FALLBACK, [], -1)
 
 TYPE_COMMENT_SYNTAX_ERROR = 'syntax error in type comment'
 TYPE_COMMENT_AST_ERROR = 'invalid type comment'
diff --git a/mypy/indirection.py b/mypy/indirection.py
index d9c171fc4531..6453a25bb449 100644
--- a/mypy/indirection.py
+++ b/mypy/indirection.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def visit_type_var(self, t: types.TypeVarType) -> Set[str]:
 
     def visit_instance(self, t: types.Instance) -> Set[str]:
         out = self._visit(*t.args)
-        if t.type is not None:
+        if t.type:
             # Uses of a class depend on everything in the MRO,
             # as changes to classes in the MRO can add types to methods,
             # change property types, change the MRO itself, etc.
diff --git a/mypy/nodes.py b/mypy/nodes.py
index 9f8d10666251..8a81d01f2cb1 100644
--- a/mypy/nodes.py
+++ b/mypy/nodes.py
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
         self.unanalyzed_type = None  # type: Optional[mypy.types.Type]
         # If method, reference to TypeInfo
         # TODO: Type should be Optional[TypeInfo]
-        self.info = cast(TypeInfo, None)
+        self.info = FUNC_NO_INFO
         self.is_property = False
         self.is_class = False
         self.is_static = False
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ def __init__(self, name: str, type: 'Optional[mypy.types.Type]' = None) -> None:
         # TODO: Should be Optional[str]
         self._fullname = cast(str, None)  # Name with module prefix
         # TODO: Should be Optional[TypeInfo]
-        self.info = cast(TypeInfo, None)  # Defining class (for member variables)
+        self.info = VAR_NO_INFO
         self.type = type  # type: Optional[mypy.types.Type] # Declared or inferred type, or None
         # Is this the first argument to an ordinary method (usually "self")?
         self.is_self = False
@@ -807,6 +807,7 @@ def __init__(self,
         self.type_vars = type_vars or []
         self.base_type_exprs = base_type_exprs or []
         self.removed_base_type_exprs = []
+        self.info = CLASSDEF_NO_INFO
         self.metaclass = metaclass
         self.decorators = []
         self.keywords = OrderedDict(keywords or [])
@@ -1414,7 +1415,7 @@ class IndexExpr(Expression):
     base = None  # type: Expression
     index = None  # type: Expression
     # Inferred __getitem__ method type
-    method_type = None  # type: mypy.types.Type
+    method_type = None  # type: Optional[mypy.types.Type]
     # If not None, this is actually semantically a type application
     # Class[type, ...] or a type alias initializer.
     analyzed = None  # type: Union[TypeApplication, TypeAliasExpr, None]
@@ -2156,7 +2157,7 @@ class is generic then it will be a type constructor of higher kind.
     # type (NamedTuple or TypedDict) was generated, store the corresponding
     # TypeInfo here. (This attribute does not need to be serialized, it is only
     # needed during the semantic passes.)
-    replaced = None  # type: TypeInfo
+    replaced = None  # type: Optional[TypeInfo]
 
     # This is a dictionary that will be serialized and un-serialized as is.
     # It is useful for plugins to add their data to save in the cache.
@@ -2416,11 +2417,27 @@ class FakeInfo(TypeInfo):
     #    pass cleanly.
     # 2. If NOT_READY value is accidentally used somewhere, it will be obvious where the value
     #    is from, whereas a 'None' value could come from anywhere.
-    def __init__(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
-        pass
+    #
+    # Additionally, this serves as a more general-purpose placeholder
+    # for missing TypeInfos in a number of places where the excuses
+    # for not being Optional are a little weaker.
+    #
+    # It defines a __bool__ method so that it can be conveniently
+    # tested against in the same way that it would be if things were
+    # properly optional.
+    def __init__(self, msg: str) -> None:
+        self.msg = msg
+
+    def __bool__(self) -> bool:
+        return False
 
     def __getattribute__(self, attr: str) -> None:
-        raise AssertionError('De-serialization failure: TypeInfo not fixed')
+        raise AssertionError(object.__getattribute__(self, 'msg'))
+
+
+VAR_NO_INFO = FakeInfo('Var is lacking info')  # type: TypeInfo
+CLASSDEF_NO_INFO = FakeInfo('ClassDef is lacking info')  # type: TypeInfo
+FUNC_NO_INFO = FakeInfo('FuncBase for non-methods lack info')  # type: TypeInfo
 
 
 class TypeAlias(SymbolNode):
@@ -2660,8 +2677,10 @@ def fullname(self) -> Optional[str]:
     @property
     def type(self) -> 'Optional[mypy.types.Type]':
         node = self.node
-        if ((isinstance(node, Var) or isinstance(node, FuncBase))
-                and node.type is not None):
+        if (isinstance(node, Var) and node.type is not None):
+            return node.type
+        # mypy thinks this branch is unreachable but it is wrong (#3603)
+        elif (isinstance(node, FuncBase) and node.type is not None):
             return node.type
         elif isinstance(node, Decorator):
             return node.var.type
@@ -2809,7 +2828,8 @@ def get_member_expr_fullname(expr: MemberExpr) -> Optional[str]:
 deserialize_map = {
     key: obj.deserialize  # type: ignore
     for key, obj in globals().items()
-    if isinstance(obj, type) and issubclass(obj, SymbolNode) and obj is not SymbolNode
+    if type(obj) is not FakeInfo
+    and isinstance(obj, type) and issubclass(obj, SymbolNode) and obj is not SymbolNode
 }
 
 
diff --git a/mypy/semanal_pass3.py b/mypy/semanal_pass3.py
index 5aaeb16ac2d8..cb7c02a9c671 100644
--- a/mypy/semanal_pass3.py
+++ b/mypy/semanal_pass3.py
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ def visit_assignment_stmt(self, s: AssignmentStmt) -> None:
         if (isinstance(s.lvalues[0], NameExpr) and s.lvalues[0].kind == MDEF
                 and isinstance(s.lvalues[0].node, Var)):
             var = s.lvalues[0].node
-            if var.info is not None and var.is_inferred and not var.is_classvar:
+            if var.info and var.is_inferred and not var.is_classvar:
                 for base in var.info.mro[1:]:
                     tnode = base.names.get(var.name())
                     if (tnode is not None and isinstance(tnode.node, Var)
diff --git a/mypy/server/astmerge.py b/mypy/server/astmerge.py
index 5265f26194b1..df9dfca26139 100644
--- a/mypy/server/astmerge.py
+++ b/mypy/server/astmerge.py
@@ -300,7 +300,8 @@ def process_type_info(self, info: Optional[TypeInfo]) -> None:
         self.fixup_type(info.tuple_type)
         self.fixup_type(info.typeddict_type)
         info.defn.info = self.fixup(info)
-        info.replaced = self.fixup(info.replaced)
+        if info.replaced:
+            info.replaced = self.fixup(info.replaced)
         replace_nodes_in_symbol_table(info.names, self.replacements)
         for i, item in enumerate(info.mro):
             info.mro[i] = self.fixup(info.mro[i])
diff --git a/mypy/server/update.py b/mypy/server/update.py
index 73939828d4bc..b9f930fd3fab 100644
--- a/mypy/server/update.py
+++ b/mypy/server/update.py
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ def target_from_node(module: str,
             return None
         return module
     elif isinstance(node, (OverloadedFuncDef, FuncDef)):
-        if node.info is not None:
+        if node.info:
             return '%s.%s' % (node.info.fullname(), node.name())
         else:
             return '%s.%s' % (module, node.name())
diff --git a/mypy/typeanal.py b/mypy/typeanal.py
index 934e9ccd311e..6131058070f2 100644
--- a/mypy/typeanal.py
+++ b/mypy/typeanal.py
@@ -413,7 +413,10 @@ def visit_callable_type(self, t: CallableType, nested: bool = True) -> Type:
                 variables = self.bind_function_type_variables(t, t)
             ret = t.copy_modified(arg_types=self.anal_array(t.arg_types, nested=nested),
                                   ret_type=self.anal_type(t.ret_type, nested=nested),
-                                  fallback=t.fallback or self.named_type('builtins.function'),
+                                  # If the fallback isn't filled in yet,
+                                  # its type will be the falsey FakeInfo
+                                  fallback=(t.fallback if t.fallback.type
+                                            else self.named_type('builtins.function')),
                                   variables=self.anal_var_defs(variables))
         return ret
 
@@ -437,7 +440,9 @@ def visit_tuple_type(self, t: TupleType) -> Type:
             else:
                 return AnyType(TypeOfAny.from_error)
         any_type = AnyType(TypeOfAny.special_form)
-        fallback = t.fallback if t.fallback else self.named_type('builtins.tuple', [any_type])
+        # If the fallback isn't filled in yet, its type will be the falsey FakeInfo
+        fallback = (t.fallback if t.fallback.type
+                    else self.named_type('builtins.tuple', [any_type]))
         return TupleType(self.anal_array(t.items), fallback, t.line)
 
     def visit_typeddict_type(self, t: TypedDictType) -> Type:
diff --git a/mypy/types.py b/mypy/types.py
index 54d7d9a9e40b..f8ba15600064 100644
--- a/mypy/types.py
+++ b/mypy/types.py
@@ -490,9 +490,7 @@ def deserialize(cls, data: JsonDict) -> 'DeletedType':
 
 
 # Fake TypeInfo to be used as a placeholder during Instance de-serialization.
-NOT_READY = mypy.nodes.FakeInfo(mypy.nodes.SymbolTable(),
-                                mypy.nodes.ClassDef('<NOT READY>', mypy.nodes.Block([])),
-                                '<NOT READY>')
+NOT_READY = mypy.nodes.FakeInfo('De-serialization failure: TypeInfo not fixed')
 
 
 class Instance(Type):
@@ -506,7 +504,7 @@ class Instance(Type):
     def __init__(self, typ: mypy.nodes.TypeInfo, args: List[Type],
                  line: int = -1, column: int = -1, erased: bool = False) -> None:
         super().__init__(line, column)
-        assert typ is NOT_READY or typ.fullname() not in ["builtins.Any", "typing.Any"]
+        assert not typ or typ.fullname() not in ["builtins.Any", "typing.Any"]
         self.type = typ
         self.args = args
         self.erased = erased  # True if result of type variable substitution