diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/ast/complete/ASTTypeId.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/ast/complete/ASTTypeId.java
index 989fc6e6884..86ba0d41976 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/ast/complete/ASTTypeId.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/ast/complete/ASTTypeId.java
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 package org.eclipse.cdt.internal.core.parser.ast.complete;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
 
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ public class ASTTypeId implements IASTTypeId
     
     public List getReferences()
     {
-    	return references;
+    	return (references == null ) ? Collections.EMPTY_LIST : references;
     }
         
     public ITokenDuple getTokenDuple()