diff --git a/compiler/frontend/src/org/jetbrains/jet/lang/types/TypeUtils.java b/compiler/frontend/src/org/jetbrains/jet/lang/types/TypeUtils.java
index f96d11a93ed..4099b7a2959 100644
--- a/compiler/frontend/src/org/jetbrains/jet/lang/types/TypeUtils.java
+++ b/compiler/frontend/src/org/jetbrains/jet/lang/types/TypeUtils.java
@@ -140,7 +140,9 @@ public class TypeUtils {
 
     @Nullable
     public static JetType intersect(@NotNull JetTypeChecker typeChecker, @NotNull Set<JetType> types) {
-        assert !types.isEmpty();
+        if (types.isEmpty()) {
+            return JetStandardClasses.getNullableAnyType();
+        }
 
         if (types.size() == 1) {
             return types.iterator().next();