diff --git a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
index 051b310..cbb23c2 100644
--- a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
+++ b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
@@ -2120,8 +2120,12 @@
   } else if ((access_flags & kAccAbstract) != 0) {
     // Abstract methods don't have code.
   } else {
+    bool has_verified_method = verification_results_->GetVerifiedMethod(method_ref) != nullptr;
     bool compile = compilation_enabled &&
-                   verification_results_->IsCandidateForCompilation(method_ref, access_flags);
+                   // Basic checks, e.g., not <clinit>.
+                   verification_results_->IsCandidateForCompilation(method_ref, access_flags) &&
+                   // Did not fail to create VerifiedMethod metadata.
+                   has_verified_method;
     if (compile) {
       // NOTE: if compiler declines to compile this method, it will return nullptr.
       compiled_method = compiler_->Compile(code_item, access_flags, invoke_type, class_def_idx,
@@ -2129,10 +2133,12 @@
     }
     if (compiled_method == nullptr && dex_to_dex_compilation_level != kDontDexToDexCompile) {
       // TODO: add a command-line option to disable DEX-to-DEX compilation ?
+      // Do not optimize if a VerifiedMethod is missing. SafeCast elision, for example, relies on
+      // it.
       (*dex_to_dex_compiler_)(*this, code_item, access_flags,
                               invoke_type, class_def_idx,
                               method_idx, class_loader, dex_file,
-                              dex_to_dex_compilation_level);
+                              has_verified_method ? dex_to_dex_compilation_level : kRequired);
     }
   }
   if (kTimeCompileMethod) {