diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/TypeErrors.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/TypeErrors.scala
index 24a207da6836..7043e944f180 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/TypeErrors.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/TypeErrors.scala
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ class CyclicReference private (val denot: SymDenotation)(using Context) extends
     val unsafeFlags = cycleSym.flagsUNSAFE
     val isMethod = unsafeFlags.is(Method)
     val isVal = !isMethod && cycleSym.isTerm
+    val isConstructor = cycleSym.isConstructor
+
+    // println("isMethod?"+isMethod+",isConstr:"+isConstructor)
 
     /* This CyclicReference might have arisen from asking for `m`'s type while trying to infer it.
      * To try to diagnose this, walk the context chain searching for context in
@@ -154,6 +157,8 @@ class CyclicReference private (val denot: SymDenotation)(using Context) extends
           case tree: untpd.ValOrDefDef if !tree.tpt.typeOpt.exists =>
             if (inImplicitSearch)
               TermMemberNeedsResultTypeForImplicitSearch(cycleSym)
+            else if (isConstructor)
+              CyclicMsgUnknownBug(cycleSym)
             else if (isMethod)
               OverloadedOrRecursiveMethodNeedsResultType(cycleSym)
             else if (isVal)
diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/messages.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/messages.scala
index 423c1cdef264..aca5d5be1d79 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/messages.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/messages.scala
@@ -1231,6 +1231,14 @@ extends CyclicMsg(OverloadedOrRecursiveMethodNeedsResultTypeID) {
         |"""
 }
 
+class CyclicMsgUnknownBug(cycleSym: Symbol)(using Context)
+extends CyclicMsg(OverloadedOrRecursiveMethodNeedsResultTypeID) {
+  def msg(using Context) = i"""Compiler bug: unknown cyclic error for $cycleSym. please report"""
+  def explain(using Context) =
+    i"""|For temporary fix, add type annotations to areas involving this constructor
+        """
+}
+
 class RecursiveValueNeedsResultType(cycleSym: Symbol)(using Context)
 extends CyclicMsg(RecursiveValueNeedsResultTypeID) {
   def msg(using Context) = i"""Recursive $cycleSym needs type"""
diff --git a/compiler/test/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/CyclicErrorMessages.scala b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/CyclicErrorMessages.scala
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..65cd3abe981e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/test/dotty/tools/dotc/reporting/CyclicErrorMessages.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package dotty.tools
+package dotc
+package reporting
+
+import dotty.tools.dotc.core.Contexts.Context
+import org.junit.Assert._
+import org.junit.Test
+
+/*better error message for cyclic errors when using exports as in #17076 */
+class CyclicErrorMessages extends ErrorMessagesTest {
+  @Test def cyclicErrMsg =
+    checkMessagesAfter("typer") {
+            """object A {
+              |  def bar(x: B.Foo[Int]) = x
+              |}
+              |
+              |object B {
+              |  import C.*
+              |  case class Foo[T <: Int](x: Any)
+              |  def foo = Foo(0)
+              |}
+              |
+              |object C extends D.Foo[Int](0)
+              |
+              |object D {
+              |  export B.foo
+              |  type Foo[T <: Int] = B.Foo[T]
+              |}
+      """.stripMargin
+    }.expect { (itcx, messages) =>
+      given Context = itcx
+
+      assertMessageCount(2, messages)
+      val msg = messages.head.message
+
+      assertTrue(msg.contains("Compiler bug: unknown cyclic error"))
+    }
+}