diff --git a/src/core/class/column.lisp b/src/core/class/column.lisp
index e4025f9..1c6f7e8 100644
--- a/src/core/class/column.lisp
+++ b/src/core/class/column.lisp
@@ -69,14 +69,7 @@
     (push (intern (symbol-name name) :keyword)
           (getf rest-initargs :initargs)))
 
-  (let ((class (apply #'call-next-method class rest-initargs)))
-    (unless (slot-boundp class 'col-type)
-      (if (or (ghost-slot-p class)
-              (slot-value class 'references))
-          (setf (slot-value class 'col-type) nil)
-          (error 'col-type-required
-                 :slot class)))
-    class))
+  (apply #'call-next-method class rest-initargs))
 
 (defgeneric table-column-references-column (column))
 
diff --git a/t/class.lisp b/t/class.lisp
index 93f633e..51ad0fc 100644
--- a/t/class.lisp
+++ b/t/class.lisp
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
 )")
   (is-table-class :mysql
                   (defclass tweet ()
-                    ((user-name :references (user name)))
+                    ((user-name :references (user name) :col-type (:or :null :text)))
                     (:metaclass table-class))
                   "CREATE TABLE tweet (
     user_name VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL