diff --git a/src/kernel/instantiate_mvars.cpp b/src/kernel/instantiate_mvars.cpp
index 9aafd17449ee..b834bf26920f 100644
--- a/src/kernel/instantiate_mvars.cpp
+++ b/src/kernel/instantiate_mvars.cpp
@@ -267,44 +267,48 @@ class instantiate_mvars_fn {
             return visit_app_default(e);
         } else {
             name const & mid = mvar_name(f);
+            /*
+            Regular assignments take precedence over delayed ones.
+            When an error occurs, Lean assigns `sorry` to unassigned metavariables.
+            The idea is to ensure we can submit the declaration to the kernel and proceed.
+            Some of the metavariables may have been delayed assigned.
+            */
+            if (auto f_new = get_assignment(mid)) {
+                // `f` is an assigned metavariable.
+                buffer<expr> args;
+                return visit_args_and_beta(*f_new, e, args);
+            }
             option_ref<delayed_assignment> d = get_delayed_mvar_assignment(m_mctx, mid);
             if (!d) {
                 // mvar is not delayed assigned
-                expr f_new = visit(f);
-                if (is_eqp(f, f_new)) {
-                    return visit_mvar_app_args(e);
-                } else {
-                    buffer<expr> args;
-                    return visit_args_and_beta(f_new, e, args);
-                }
-            } else {
+                return visit_mvar_app_args(e);
+            }
+            /*
+            Apply "delayed substitution" (i.e., delayed assignment + application).
+            That is, `f` is some metavariable `?m`, that is delayed assigned to `val`.
+            If after instantiating `val`, we obtain `newVal`, and `newVal` does not contain
+            metavariables, we replace the free variables `fvars` in `newVal` with the first
+            `fvars.size` elements of `args`.
+            */
+            array_ref<expr> fvars(cnstr_get(d.get_val().raw(), 0), true);
+            name mid_pending(cnstr_get(d.get_val().raw(), 1), true);
+            if (fvars.size() > get_app_num_args(e)) {
                 /*
-                Apply "delayed substitution" (i.e., delayed assignment + application).
-                That is, `f` is some metavariable `?m`, that is delayed assigned to `val`.
-                If after instantiating `val`, we obtain `newVal`, and `newVal` does not contain
-                metavariables, we replace the free variables `fvars` in `newVal` with the first
-                `fvars.size` elements of `args`.
-                */
-                array_ref<expr> fvars(cnstr_get(d.get_val().raw(), 0), true);
-                name mid_pending(cnstr_get(d.get_val().raw(), 1), true);
-                if (fvars.size() > get_app_num_args(e)) {
-                    /*
-                    We don't have sufficient arguments for instantiating the free variables `fvars`.
-                    This can only happen if a tactic or elaboration function is not implemented correctly.
-                    We decided to not use `panic!` here and report it as an error in the frontend
-                    when we are checking for unassigned metavariables in an elaborated term. */
-                    return visit_mvar_app_args(e);
-                }
-                optional<expr> val = get_assignment(mid_pending);
-                if (!val)
-                    // mid_pending has not been assigned yet.
-                    return visit_mvar_app_args(e);
-                if (has_expr_mvar(*val))
-                    // mid_pending has been assigned, but assignment contains mvars.
-                    return visit_mvar_app_args(e);
-                buffer<expr> args;
-                return visit_delayed(fvars, *val, e, args);
+                We don't have sufficient arguments for instantiating the free variables `fvars`.
+                This can only happen if a tactic or elaboration function is not implemented correctly.
+                We decided to not use `panic!` here and report it as an error in the frontend
+                when we are checking for unassigned metavariables in an elaborated term. */
+                return visit_mvar_app_args(e);
             }
+            optional<expr> val = get_assignment(mid_pending);
+            if (!val)
+                // mid_pending has not been assigned yet.
+                return visit_mvar_app_args(e);
+            if (has_expr_mvar(*val))
+                // mid_pending has been assigned, but assignment contains mvars.
+                return visit_mvar_app_args(e);
+            buffer<expr> args;
+            return visit_delayed(fvars, *val, e, args);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/lean/run/4920.lean b/tests/lean/run/4920.lean
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..cff5316fdada
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/lean/run/4920.lean
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+def Vect (n: Nat) (A: Type u) := {l: List A // l.length = n}
+
+def Vect.cons (a: A) (v: Vect n A): Vect (n + 1) A :=
+  ⟨a::v.val, by simp [v.property]⟩
+
+instance: GetElem (Vect n A) Nat A (λ _ i => i < n) where
+  getElem vec i _ := match vec with | ⟨l, _⟩ => l[i]
+
+set_option pp.mvars false
+/--
+error: type mismatch
+  xm[i]
+has type
+  Vect m A : outParam (Type _)
+but is expected to have type
+  A : outParam (Type _)
+---
+error: type mismatch
+  h✝
+has type
+  i < as.length : Prop
+but is expected to have type
+  ?_ : Type _
+---
+error: failed to prove index is valid, possible solutions:
+  - Use `have`-expressions to prove the index is valid
+  - Use `a[i]!` notation instead, runtime check is perfomed, and 'Panic' error message is produced if index is not valid
+  - Use `a[i]?` notation instead, result is an `Option` type
+  - Use `a[i]'h` notation instead, where `h` is a proof that index is valid
+A : Type _
+m i j : Nat
+as : List A
+xm : List (Vect m A)
+h0 : xm.length = as.length
+ih : i < (List.zipWith cons as xm).length
+jh : j < m
+⊢ ?_ (sorryAx (i < as.length → ?_) true ⋯) j
+-/
+#guard_msgs in
+theorem Vect.aux
+    {as: List A} {xm: List (Vect m A)}
+    (h0: xm.length = as.length)
+    (ih: i < (List.zipWith cons as xm).length)
+    (jh: j < m)
+    : ((List.zipWith cons as xm)[i])[j + 1] =
+        xm[i]'(by simpa[h0] using ih)[j] := by
+        -- Correct syntax requires an extra pair of parentheses:
+        -- (xm[i]'(by simpa[h0] using ih))[j]
+        -- but `lean` should not crash.
+  sorry