diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/sty.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/sty.rs
index e27bb2fd135..142db8a17f0 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/sty.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/sty.rs
@@ -1933,6 +1933,7 @@ pub fn primitive_symbol(self) -> Option<Symbol> {
                 ty::UintTy::U64 => Some(sym::u64),
                 ty::UintTy::U128 => Some(sym::u128),
             },
+            ty::Str => Some(sym::str),
             _ => None,
         }
     }
diff --git a/tests/ui/mismatched_types/similar_paths_primitive.rs b/tests/ui/mismatched_types/similar_paths_primitive.rs
index 8f5b7cce469..98890a15d98 100644
--- a/tests/ui/mismatched_types/similar_paths_primitive.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/mismatched_types/similar_paths_primitive.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 #![allow(non_camel_case_types)]
 
 struct bool;
+struct str;
 
 fn foo(_: bool) {}
+fn bar(_: &str) {}
 
 fn main() {
     foo(true);
     //~^ ERROR mismatched types [E0308]
+    bar("hello");
+    //~^ ERROR mismatched types [E0308]
 }
diff --git a/tests/ui/mismatched_types/similar_paths_primitive.stderr b/tests/ui/mismatched_types/similar_paths_primitive.stderr
index c9881891319..0530bf5863e 100644
--- a/tests/ui/mismatched_types/similar_paths_primitive.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/mismatched_types/similar_paths_primitive.stderr
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 error[E0308]: mismatched types
-  --> $DIR/similar_paths_primitive.rs:8:9
+  --> $DIR/similar_paths_primitive.rs:10:9
    |
 LL |     foo(true);
    |     --- ^^^^ expected `bool`, found a different `bool`
@@ -14,11 +14,32 @@ note: `bool` is defined in the current crate
 LL | struct bool;
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^
 note: function defined here
-  --> $DIR/similar_paths_primitive.rs:5:4
+  --> $DIR/similar_paths_primitive.rs:6:4
    |
 LL | fn foo(_: bool) {}
    |    ^^^ -------
 
-error: aborting due to 1 previous error
+error[E0308]: mismatched types
+  --> $DIR/similar_paths_primitive.rs:12:9
+   |
+LL |     bar("hello");
+   |     --- ^^^^^^^ expected `str`, found a different `str`
+   |     |
+   |     arguments to this function are incorrect
+   |
+   = note: str and `str` have similar names, but are actually distinct types
+   = note: str is a primitive defined by the language
+note: `str` is defined in the current crate
+  --> $DIR/similar_paths_primitive.rs:4:1
+   |
+LL | struct str;
+   | ^^^^^^^^^^
+note: function defined here
+  --> $DIR/similar_paths_primitive.rs:7:4
+   |
+LL | fn bar(_: &str) {}
+   |    ^^^ -------
+
+error: aborting due to 2 previous errors
 
 For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0308`.