diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/Desugar.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/Desugar.scala
index b507c2ed14fb..99cf8a3c4563 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/Desugar.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/Desugar.scala
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ object desugar {
    *  ```
    */
   def transformQuotedPatternName(tree: ValOrDefDef)(implicit ctx: Context): ValOrDefDef = {
-    if (ctx.mode.is(Mode.QuotedPattern) && !tree.isBackquoted && tree.name != nme.ANON_FUN && tree.name.startsWith("$")) {
+    if (ctx.mode.is(Mode.QuotedPattern) && !isBackquoted(tree) && tree.name != nme.ANON_FUN && tree.name.startsWith("$")) {
       val mods = tree.mods.withAddedAnnotation(New(ref(defn.InternalQuoted_patternBindHoleAnnot.typeRef)).withSpan(tree.span))
       tree.withMods(mods)
     } else tree
@@ -1478,7 +1478,7 @@ object desugar {
         // This is a deliberate departure from scalac, where StringContext is not rooted (See #4732)
         Apply(Select(Apply(scalaDot(nme.StringContext), strs), id), elems)
       case PostfixOp(t, op) =>
-        if ((ctx.mode is Mode.Type) && !op.isBackquoted && op.name == tpnme.raw.STAR) {
+        if ((ctx.mode is Mode.Type) && !isBackquoted(op) && op.name == tpnme.raw.STAR) {
           val seqType = if (ctx.compilationUnit.isJava) defn.ArrayType else defn.SeqType
           Annotated(
             AppliedTypeTree(ref(seqType), t),
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/TreeInfo.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/TreeInfo.scala
index 3d8495a5ea86..2c600701911a 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/TreeInfo.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/TreeInfo.scala
@@ -140,10 +140,12 @@ trait TreeInfo[T >: Untyped <: Type] { self: Trees.Instance[T] =>
     case _ => false
   }
 
+  /** Is tree a backquoted identifier or definition */
+  def isBackquoted(tree: Tree): Boolean = tree.hasAttachment(Backquoted)
+
   /** Is tree a variable pattern? */
   def isVarPattern(pat: Tree): Boolean = unsplice(pat) match {
-    case x: BackquotedIdent => false
-    case x: Ident => x.name.isVariableName
+    case x: Ident => x.name.isVariableName && !isBackquoted(x)
     case _  => false
   }
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/TreeMapWithImplicits.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/TreeMapWithImplicits.scala
index e98e72978281..714845f1fdfd 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/TreeMapWithImplicits.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/TreeMapWithImplicits.scala
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ import dotty.tools.dotc.core.TypeError
 import scala.annotation.tailrec
 
 /** A TreeMap that maintains the necessary infrastructure to support
- *  contxtual implicit searches (type-scope implicits are supported anyway).
+ *  contextual implicit searches (type-scope implicits are supported anyway).
  *
- *  This incudes impicits defined in scope as well as imported implicits.
+ *  This incudes implicits defined in scope as well as imported implicits.
  */
 class TreeMapWithImplicits extends tpd.TreeMap {
   import tpd._
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/Trees.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/Trees.scala
index 61b16d1e0d74..7486df49d482 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/Trees.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/Trees.scala
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ object Trees {
   @sharable var ntrees: Int = 0
 
   /** Property key for trees with documentation strings attached */
-  val DocComment: Property.StickyKey[Comments.Comment] = new Property.StickyKey
+  val DocComment: Property.StickyKey[Comments.Comment] = Property.StickyKey()
+
+  /** Property key for backquoted identifiers and definitions */
+  val Backquoted: Property.StickyKey[Unit] = Property.StickyKey()
 
   /** Trees take a parameter indicating what the type of their `tpe` field
    *  is. Two choices: `Type` or `Untyped`.
@@ -363,9 +366,6 @@ object Trees {
     def tpt: Tree[T]
     def unforcedRhs: LazyTree[T] = unforced
     def rhs(implicit ctx: Context): Tree[T] = forceIfLazy
-
-    /** Is this a `BackquotedValDef` or `BackquotedDefDef` ? */
-    def isBackquoted: Boolean = false
   }
 
   // ----------- Tree case classes ------------------------------------
@@ -376,15 +376,7 @@ object Trees {
     type ThisTree[-T >: Untyped] = Ident[T]
     def qualifier: Tree[T] = genericEmptyTree
 
-    /** Is this a `BackquotedIdent` ? */
-    def isBackquoted: Boolean = false
-  }
-
-  class BackquotedIdent[-T >: Untyped]private[ast] (name: Name)(implicit @constructorOnly src: SourceFile)
-    extends Ident[T](name) {
-    override def isBackquoted: Boolean = true
-
-    override def toString: String = s"BackquotedIdent($name)"
+    def isBackquoted: Boolean = hasAttachment(Backquoted)
   }
 
   class SearchFailureIdent[-T >: Untyped] private[ast] (name: Name)(implicit @constructorOnly src: SourceFile)
@@ -437,7 +429,7 @@ object Trees {
     extends GenericApply[T] {
     type ThisTree[-T >: Untyped] = Apply[T]
 
-    def isGivenApply = getAttachment(untpd.ApplyGiven).nonEmpty
+    def isGivenApply = hasAttachment(untpd.ApplyGiven)
     def setGivenApply() = { pushAttachment(untpd.ApplyGiven, ()); this }
   }
 
@@ -735,12 +727,6 @@ object Trees {
     protected def force(x: Tree[T @uncheckedVariance]): Unit = preRhs = x
   }
 
-  class BackquotedValDef[-T >: Untyped] private[ast] (name: TermName, tpt: Tree[T], preRhs: LazyTree[T @uncheckedVariance])(implicit @constructorOnly src: SourceFile)
-    extends ValDef[T](name, tpt, preRhs) {
-    override def isBackquoted: Boolean = true
-    override def productPrefix: String = "BackquotedValDef"
-  }
-
   /** mods def name[tparams](vparams_1)...(vparams_n): tpt = rhs */
   case class DefDef[-T >: Untyped] private[ast] (name: TermName, tparams: List[TypeDef[T]],
       vparamss: List[List[ValDef[T]]], tpt: Tree[T], private var preRhs: LazyTree[T @uncheckedVariance])(implicit @constructorOnly src: SourceFile)
@@ -755,13 +741,6 @@ object Trees {
       // their for clause, but the two appear swapped in the DefDef.
   }
 
-  class BackquotedDefDef[-T >: Untyped] private[ast] (name: TermName, tparams: List[TypeDef[T]],
-      vparamss: List[List[ValDef[T]]], tpt: Tree[T], preRhs: LazyTree[T])(implicit @constructorOnly src: SourceFile)
-    extends DefDef[T](name, tparams, vparamss, tpt, preRhs) {
-    override def isBackquoted: Boolean = true
-    override def productPrefix: String = "BackquotedDefDef"
-  }
-
   /** mods class name template     or
    *  mods trait name template     or
    *  mods type name = rhs   or
@@ -947,7 +926,6 @@ object Trees {
     type LazyTreeList = Trees.LazyTreeList[T]
 
     type Ident = Trees.Ident[T]
-    type BackquotedIdent = Trees.BackquotedIdent[T]
     type SearchFailureIdent = Trees.SearchFailureIdent[T]
     type Select = Trees.Select[T]
     type SelectWithSig = Trees.SelectWithSig[T]
@@ -986,9 +964,7 @@ object Trees {
     type Alternative = Trees.Alternative[T]
     type UnApply = Trees.UnApply[T]
     type ValDef = Trees.ValDef[T]
-    type BackquotedValDef = Trees.BackquotedValDef[T]
     type DefDef = Trees.DefDef[T]
-    type BackquotedDefDef = Trees.BackquotedDefDef[T]
     type TypeDef = Trees.TypeDef[T]
     type Template = Trees.Template[T]
     type Import = Trees.Import[T]
@@ -1036,9 +1012,6 @@ object Trees {
         postProcess(tree, copied.withSpan(tree.span).withAttachmentsFrom(tree))
 
       def Ident(tree: Tree)(name: Name)(implicit ctx: Context): Ident = tree match {
-        case tree: BackquotedIdent =>
-          if (name == tree.name) tree
-          else finalize(tree, new BackquotedIdent(name)(sourceFile(tree)))
         case tree: Ident if name == tree.name => tree
         case _ => finalize(tree, untpd.Ident(name)(sourceFile(tree)))
       }
@@ -1181,16 +1154,10 @@ object Trees {
         case _ => finalize(tree, untpd.UnApply(fun, implicits, patterns)(sourceFile(tree)))
       }
       def ValDef(tree: Tree)(name: TermName, tpt: Tree, rhs: LazyTree)(implicit ctx: Context): ValDef = tree match {
-        case tree: BackquotedValDef =>
-          if ((name == tree.name) && (tpt eq tree.tpt) && (rhs eq tree.unforcedRhs)) tree
-          else finalize(tree, untpd.BackquotedValDef(name, tpt, rhs)(sourceFile(tree)))
         case tree: ValDef if (name == tree.name) && (tpt eq tree.tpt) && (rhs eq tree.unforcedRhs) => tree
         case _ => finalize(tree, untpd.ValDef(name, tpt, rhs)(sourceFile(tree)))
       }
       def DefDef(tree: Tree)(name: TermName, tparams: List[TypeDef], vparamss: List[List[ValDef]], tpt: Tree, rhs: LazyTree)(implicit ctx: Context): DefDef = tree match {
-        case tree: BackquotedDefDef =>
-          if ((name == tree.name) && (tparams eq tree.tparams) && (vparamss eq tree.vparamss) && (tpt eq tree.tpt) && (rhs eq tree.unforcedRhs)) tree
-          else finalize(tree, untpd.BackquotedDefDef(name, tparams, vparamss, tpt, rhs)(sourceFile(tree)))
         case tree: DefDef if (name == tree.name) && (tparams eq tree.tparams) && (vparamss eq tree.vparamss) && (tpt eq tree.tpt) && (rhs eq tree.unforcedRhs) => tree
         case _ => finalize(tree, untpd.DefDef(name, tparams, vparamss, tpt, rhs)(sourceFile(tree)))
       }
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/untpd.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/untpd.scala
index 580c82998db9..f75b2f12fd49 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/untpd.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/untpd.scala
@@ -299,7 +299,6 @@ object untpd extends Trees.Instance[Untyped] with UntypedTreeInfo {
   // ------ Creation methods for untyped only -----------------
 
   def Ident(name: Name)(implicit src: SourceFile): Ident = new Ident(name)
-  def BackquotedIdent(name: Name)(implicit src: SourceFile): BackquotedIdent = new BackquotedIdent(name)
   def SearchFailureIdent(name: Name)(implicit src: SourceFile): SearchFailureIdent = new SearchFailureIdent(name)
   def Select(qualifier: Tree, name: Name)(implicit src: SourceFile): Select = new Select(qualifier, name)
   def SelectWithSig(qualifier: Tree, name: Name, sig: Signature)(implicit src: SourceFile): Select = new SelectWithSig(qualifier, name, sig)
@@ -338,9 +337,7 @@ object untpd extends Trees.Instance[Untyped] with UntypedTreeInfo {
   def Alternative(trees: List[Tree])(implicit src: SourceFile): Alternative = new Alternative(trees)
   def UnApply(fun: Tree, implicits: List[Tree], patterns: List[Tree])(implicit src: SourceFile): UnApply = new UnApply(fun, implicits, patterns)
   def ValDef(name: TermName, tpt: Tree, rhs: LazyTree)(implicit src: SourceFile): ValDef = new ValDef(name, tpt, rhs)
-  def BackquotedValDef(name: TermName, tpt: Tree, rhs: LazyTree)(implicit src: SourceFile): ValDef = new BackquotedValDef(name, tpt, rhs)
   def DefDef(name: TermName, tparams: List[TypeDef], vparamss: List[List[ValDef]], tpt: Tree, rhs: LazyTree)(implicit src: SourceFile): DefDef = new DefDef(name, tparams, vparamss, tpt, rhs)
-  def BackquotedDefDef(name: TermName, tparams: List[TypeDef], vparamss: List[List[ValDef]], tpt: Tree, rhs: LazyTree)(implicit src: SourceFile): DefDef = new BackquotedDefDef(name, tparams, vparamss, tpt, rhs)
   def TypeDef(name: TypeName, rhs: Tree)(implicit src: SourceFile): TypeDef = new TypeDef(name, rhs)
   def Template(constr: DefDef, parents: List[Tree], derived: List[Tree], self: ValDef, body: LazyTreeList)(implicit src: SourceFile): Template =
     if (derived.isEmpty) new Template(constr, parents, self, body)
@@ -431,9 +428,8 @@ object untpd extends Trees.Instance[Untyped] with UntypedTreeInfo {
     AppliedTypeTree(ref(defn.andType.typeRef), left :: right :: Nil)
 
   def makeParameter(pname: TermName, tpe: Tree, mods: Modifiers = EmptyModifiers, isBackquoted: Boolean = false)(implicit ctx: Context): ValDef = {
-    val vdef =
-      if (isBackquoted) BackquotedValDef(pname, tpe, EmptyTree)
-      else ValDef(pname, tpe, EmptyTree)
+    val vdef = ValDef(pname, tpe, EmptyTree)
+    if (isBackquoted) vdef.pushAttachment(Backquoted, ())
     vdef.withMods(mods | Param)
   }
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/parsing/Parsers.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/parsing/Parsers.scala
index 305f1635fde8..6740559ff204 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/parsing/Parsers.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/parsing/Parsers.scala
@@ -408,9 +408,9 @@ object Parsers {
     */
     def convertToParam(tree: Tree, expected: String = "formal parameter"): ValDef = tree match {
       case id @ Ident(name) =>
-        makeParameter(name.asTermName, TypeTree(), isBackquoted = id.isBackquoted).withSpan(tree.span)
+        makeParameter(name.asTermName, TypeTree(), isBackquoted = isBackquoted(id)).withSpan(tree.span)
       case Typed(id @ Ident(name), tpt) =>
-        makeParameter(name.asTermName, tpt, isBackquoted = id.isBackquoted).withSpan(tree.span)
+        makeParameter(name.asTermName, tpt, isBackquoted = isBackquoted(id)).withSpan(tree.span)
       case Typed(Splice(Ident(name)), tpt) =>
         makeParameter(("$" + name).toTermName, tpt).withSpan(tree.span)
       case _ =>
@@ -628,9 +628,8 @@ object Parsers {
       makeIdent(in.token, in.offset, ident().toTypeName)
 
     private def makeIdent(tok: Token, offset: Offset, name: Name) = {
-      val tree =
-        if (tok == BACKQUOTED_IDENT) BackquotedIdent(name)
-        else Ident(name)
+      val tree = Ident(name)
+      if (tok == BACKQUOTED_IDENT) tree.pushAttachment(Backquoted, ())
 
       // Make sure that even trees with parsing errors have a offset that is within the offset
       val errorOffset = offset min (in.lastOffset - 1)
@@ -2526,10 +2525,10 @@ object Parsers {
           }
         } else EmptyTree
       lhs match {
-        case (id: BackquotedIdent) :: Nil if id.name.isTermName =>
-          finalizeDef(BackquotedValDef(id.name.asTermName, tpt, rhs), mods, start)
-        case Ident(name: TermName) :: Nil =>
-          finalizeDef(ValDef(name, tpt, rhs), mods, start)
+        case (id @ Ident(name: TermName)) :: Nil =>
+          val vdef = ValDef(name, tpt, rhs)
+          if (isBackquoted(id)) vdef.pushAttachment(Backquoted, ())
+          finalizeDef(vdef, mods, start)
         case _ =>
           PatDef(mods, lhs, tpt, rhs)
       }
@@ -2606,8 +2605,9 @@ object Parsers {
             expr()
           }
 
-        if (ident.isBackquoted) finalizeDef(BackquotedDefDef(ident.name.asTermName, tparams, vparamss, tpt, rhs), mods1, start)
-        else finalizeDef(DefDef(ident.name.asTermName, tparams, vparamss, tpt, rhs), mods1, start)
+        val ddef = DefDef(ident.name.asTermName, tparams, vparamss, tpt, rhs)
+        if (isBackquoted(ident)) ddef.pushAttachment(Backquoted, ())
+        finalizeDef(ddef, mods1, start)
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/printing/RefinedPrinter.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/printing/RefinedPrinter.scala
index 1817fc3c3d10..0f6d796af116 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/printing/RefinedPrinter.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/printing/RefinedPrinter.scala
@@ -334,8 +334,6 @@ class RefinedPrinter(_ctx: Context) extends PlainPrinter(_ctx) {
     }
 
     tree match {
-      case id: Trees.BackquotedIdent[_] if !homogenizedView =>
-        "`" ~ toText(id.name) ~ "`"
       case id: Trees.SearchFailureIdent[_] =>
         tree.typeOpt match {
           case reason: Implicits.SearchFailureType =>
@@ -343,7 +341,7 @@ class RefinedPrinter(_ctx: Context) extends PlainPrinter(_ctx) {
           case _ =>
             toText(id.name)
         }
-      case Ident(name) =>
+      case id @ Ident(name) =>
         val txt = tree.typeOpt match {
           case tp: NamedType if name != nme.WILDCARD =>
             val pre = if (tp.symbol.is(JavaStatic)) tp.prefix.widen else tp.prefix
@@ -351,7 +349,8 @@ class RefinedPrinter(_ctx: Context) extends PlainPrinter(_ctx) {
           case _ =>
             toText(name)
         }
-        if (name.isTypeName) typeText(txt)
+        if (isBackquoted(tree) && !homogenizedView) "`" ~ toText(name) ~ "`"
+        else if (name.isTypeName) typeText(txt)
         else txt
       case tree @ Select(qual, name) =>
         if (!printDebug && tree.hasType && tree.symbol == defn.QuotedType_splice) typeText("${") ~ toTextLocal(qual) ~ typeText("}")
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/PatternMatcher.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/PatternMatcher.scala
index 36825c2cd2d6..189630e902fc 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/PatternMatcher.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/PatternMatcher.scala
@@ -188,8 +188,7 @@ object PatternMatcher {
         case Typed(_, tpt) if tpt.tpe.isRepeatedParam => true
         case Bind(nme.WILDCARD, WildcardPattern()) => true // don't skip when binding an interesting symbol!
         case t if isWildcardArg(t)                 => true
-        case x: BackquotedIdent                    => false
-        case x: Ident                              => x.name.isVariableName
+        case x: Ident                              => x.name.isVariableName && !isBackquoted(x)
         case Alternative(ps)                       => ps.forall(unapply)
         case EmptyTree                             => true
         case _                                     => false
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/TypeTestsCasts.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/TypeTestsCasts.scala
index 362623f8b94c..548dba2f4de9 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/TypeTestsCasts.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/TypeTestsCasts.scala
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ object TypeTestsCasts {
 
         if (sym.isTypeTest) {
           val argType = tree.args.head.tpe
-          val isTrusted = tree.getAttachment(PatternMatcher.TrustedTypeTestKey).nonEmpty
+          val isTrusted = tree.hasAttachment(PatternMatcher.TrustedTypeTestKey)
           if (!isTrusted && !checkable(expr.tpe, argType, tree.span))
             ctx.warning(i"the type test for $argType cannot be checked at runtime", tree.sourcePos)
           transformTypeTest(expr, tree.args.head.tpe, flagUnrelated = true)
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/patmat/Space.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/patmat/Space.scala
index d38e3b104ba8..09fe654107a2 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/patmat/Space.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/transform/patmat/Space.scala
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ class SpaceEngine(implicit ctx: Context) extends SpaceLogic {
         Typ(c.value.asInstanceOf[Symbol].termRef, false)
       else
         Typ(ConstantType(c), false)
-    case _: BackquotedIdent => Typ(pat.tpe, false)
+    case pat: Ident if isBackquoted(pat) => Typ(pat.tpe, false)
     case Ident(nme.WILDCARD) =>
       Or(Typ(pat.tpe.stripAnnots, false) :: nullSpace :: Nil)
     case Ident(_) | Select(_, _) =>
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Checking.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Checking.scala
index d390c9662d21..334167b95b5f 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Checking.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Checking.scala
@@ -752,16 +752,15 @@ trait Checking {
         isInfix(sym.owner.linkedClass)
 
     tree.op match {
-      case _: untpd.BackquotedIdent =>
-        ()
-      case Ident(name: Name) =>
+      case id @ Ident(name: Name) =>
         name.toTermName match {
           case name: SimpleName
-          if !name.exists(isOperatorPart) &&
-            !isInfix(meth) &&
-            !meth.maybeOwner.is(Scala2x) &&
-            !infixOKSinceFollowedBy(tree.right) &&
-            ctx.settings.strict.value =>
+          if !untpd.isBackquoted(id) &&
+             !name.exists(isOperatorPart) &&
+             !isInfix(meth) &&
+             !meth.maybeOwner.is(Scala2x) &&
+             !infixOKSinceFollowedBy(tree.right) &&
+             ctx.settings.strict.value =>
             val (kind, alternative) =
               if (ctx.mode.is(Mode.Type))
                 ("type", (n: Name) => s"prefix syntax $n[...]")
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/TypeAssigner.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/TypeAssigner.scala
index 90bba0dc56da..96c84adb2b67 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/TypeAssigner.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/TypeAssigner.scala
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ trait TypeAssigner {
    */
   def accessibleSelectionType(tree: untpd.RefTree, qual1: Tree)(implicit ctx: Context): Type = {
     val ownType = selectionType(tree, qual1)
-    if (tree.getAttachment(desugar.SuppressAccessCheck).isDefined) ownType
+    if (tree.hasAttachment(desugar.SuppressAccessCheck)) ownType
     else ensureAccessible(ownType, qual1.isInstanceOf[Super], tree.sourcePos)
   }
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
index ee9357aac428..5f84d83c33ea 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/typer/Typer.scala
@@ -2437,7 +2437,7 @@ class Typer extends Namer
     }
 
     def isSyntheticApply(tree: Tree): Boolean = tree match {
-      case tree: Select => tree.getAttachment(InsertedApply).isDefined
+      case tree: Select => tree.hasAttachment(InsertedApply)
       case _ => false
     }
 
@@ -2459,7 +2459,7 @@ class Typer extends Namer
     else pt match {
       case pt @ FunProto(Nil, _)
       if tree.symbol.allOverriddenSymbols.exists(_.info.isNullaryMethod) &&
-         tree.getAttachment(DroppedEmptyArgs).isEmpty =>
+         !tree.hasAttachment(DroppedEmptyArgs) =>
         tree.putAttachment(DroppedEmptyArgs, ())
         pt.markAsDropped()
         tree
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/util/Attachment.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/util/Attachment.scala
index 7669e473a385..72367a10f0b7 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/util/Attachment.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/util/Attachment.scala
@@ -23,6 +23,14 @@ object Attachment {
       else nx.getAttachment[V](key)
     }
 
+    /** Does an attachment corresponding to `key` exist? */
+    final def hasAttachment[V](key: Key[V]): Boolean = {
+      val nx = next
+      if (nx == null) false
+      else if (nx.key eq key) true
+      else nx.hasAttachment[V](key)
+    }
+
     /** The attachment corresponding to `key`.
      *  @throws NoSuchElementException  if no attachment with key exists
      */
@@ -107,7 +115,7 @@ object Attachment {
     }
 
     final def pushAttachment[V](key: Key[V], value: V): Unit = {
-      assert(!getAttachment(key).isDefined, s"duplicate attachment for key $key")
+      assert(!hasAttachment(key), s"duplicate attachment for key $key")
       next = new Link(key, value, next)
     }
 
diff --git a/compiler/test/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/AttachmentsTest.scala b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/AttachmentsTest.scala
index f4c3575de968..c4f8b2b0be7a 100644
--- a/compiler/test/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/AttachmentsTest.scala
+++ b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/dotc/ast/AttachmentsTest.scala
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ class AttachmentsTests extends DottyTest {
 
         val copy = tpd.cpy.TypeDef(clazz)(rhs = tpd.EmptyTree)
         assertTrue("A copy should have been returned", clazz ne copy)
-        assertTrue("Attachment should be present", copy.getAttachment(StickyTestKey).isDefined)
-        assertTrue("Attachment shouldn't be present", copy.getAttachment(TestKey).isEmpty)
-        assertTrue("Attachment should be present", copy.getAttachment(StickyTestKey2).isDefined)
+        assertTrue("Attachment should be present", copy.hasAttachment(StickyTestKey))
+        assertTrue("Attachment shouldn't be present", !copy.hasAttachment(TestKey))
+        assertTrue("Attachment should be present", copy.hasAttachment(StickyTestKey2))
 
       case _ =>
         fail