diff --git a/src/Element/TypeHintedElementTrait.php b/src/Element/TypeHintedElementTrait.php
index b737c4c..9db14da 100644
--- a/src/Element/TypeHintedElementTrait.php
+++ b/src/Element/TypeHintedElementTrait.php
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public static function typeIsValid($type): bool
         return
             is_null($type)
             || $type instanceof PhpClass
-            || (is_string($type) && class_exists($type))
+            || (is_string($type) && class_exists($type, false))
             || in_array($type, TypeHintedElementInterface::TYPES, true)
             || static::stringIsValid($type, true, true);
     }
diff --git a/tests/Element/PhpFunctionParameterTest.php b/tests/Element/PhpFunctionParameterTest.php
index ab0c21a..77114e3 100755
--- a/tests/Element/PhpFunctionParameterTest.php
+++ b/tests/Element/PhpFunctionParameterTest.php
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ public function testTypeIsValidAccentuated()
         $this->assertTrue(PhpFunctionParameter::typeIsValid('Partagé'));
     }
 
+    public function testTypeIsValidWithUnloadedFullyQualifiedClassName()
+    {
+        $this->assertTrue(PhpFunctionParameter::typeIsValid('\\Some\\Namespace\\NonExistentClass'));
+    }
+
     public function testFloatValueForDeclaration()
     {
         $initialSerializePrecision = ini_get('serialize_precision');