diff --git a/sdks/go/pkg/beam/validate.go b/sdks/go/pkg/beam/validate.go
index 9987bfe5705e..2bc00fd547d6 100644
--- a/sdks/go/pkg/beam/validate.go
+++ b/sdks/go/pkg/beam/validate.go
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ func makeTypedefs(list []TypeDefinition) (map[string]reflect.Type, error) {
 		if !typex.IsUniversal(v.Var) {
 			return nil, errors.Errorf("type var %s must be a universal type", v.Var)
 		}
-		if !typex.IsConcrete(v.T) {
-			return nil, errors.Errorf("type value %s must be a concrete type", v.T)
+		if ok, err := typex.CheckConcrete(v.T); !ok {
+			return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "type value %s must be a concrete type", v.T)
 		}
 		typedefs[v.Var.Name()] = v.T
 	}