diff --git a/compiler/cli/cli-common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/arguments/CommonCompilerArguments.kt b/compiler/cli/cli-common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/arguments/CommonCompilerArguments.kt
index aa62aa630ae..b2cf62a4d97 100644
--- a/compiler/cli/cli-common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/arguments/CommonCompilerArguments.kt
+++ b/compiler/cli/cli-common/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/arguments/CommonCompilerArguments.kt
@@ -206,31 +206,31 @@ abstract class CommonCompilerArguments : CommonToolArguments() {
         value = "-Xdisable-phases",
         description = "Disable backend phases"
     )
-    var disablePhases: Array<String> by FreezableVar(emptyArray())
+    var disablePhases: Array<String>? by FreezableVar(null)
 
     @Argument(
         value = "-Xverbose-phases",
         description = "Be verbose while performing these backend phases"
     )
-    var verbosePhases: Array<String> by FreezableVar(emptyArray())
+    var verbosePhases: Array<String>? by FreezableVar(null)
 
     @Argument(
         value = "-Xphases-to-dump-before",
         description = "Dump backend state before these phases"
     )
-    var phasesToDumpBefore: Array<String> by FreezableVar(emptyArray())
+    var phasesToDumpBefore: Array<String>? by FreezableVar(null)
 
     @Argument(
         value = "-Xphases-to-dump-after",
         description = "Dump backend state after these phases"
     )
-    var phasesToDumpAfter: Array<String> by FreezableVar(emptyArray())
+    var phasesToDumpAfter: Array<String>? by FreezableVar(null)
 
     @Argument(
         value = "-Xphases-to-dump",
         description = "Dump backend state both before and after these phases"
     )
-    var phasesToDump: Array<String> by FreezableVar(emptyArray())
+    var phasesToDump: Array<String>? by FreezableVar(null)
 
     @Argument(
         value = "-Xprofile-phases",
diff --git a/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/CLICompiler.java b/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/CLICompiler.java
index cdb5925c469..a45e6b59832 100644
--- a/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/CLICompiler.java
+++ b/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/CLICompiler.java
@@ -163,11 +163,21 @@ public abstract class CLICompiler<A extends CommonCompilerArguments> extends CLI
         setupLanguageVersionSettings(configuration, arguments);
 
         configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.LIST_PHASES, arguments.getListPhases());
-        configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.DISABLED_PHASES, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getDisablePhases()));
-        configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.VERBOSE_PHASES, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getVerbosePhases()));
-        configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.PHASES_TO_DUMP_STATE_BEFORE, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getPhasesToDumpBefore()));
-        configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.PHASES_TO_DUMP_STATE_AFTER, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getPhasesToDumpAfter()));
-        configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.PHASES_TO_DUMP_STATE, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getPhasesToDump()));
+        if (arguments.getDisablePhases() != null) {
+            configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.DISABLED_PHASES, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getDisablePhases()));
+        }
+        if (arguments.getVerbosePhases() != null) {
+            configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.VERBOSE_PHASES, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getVerbosePhases()));
+        }
+        if (arguments.getPhasesToDumpBefore() != null) {
+            configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.PHASES_TO_DUMP_STATE_BEFORE, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getPhasesToDumpBefore()));
+        }
+        if (arguments.getPhasesToDumpAfter() != null) {
+            configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.PHASES_TO_DUMP_STATE_AFTER, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getPhasesToDumpAfter()));
+        }
+        if (arguments.getPhasesToDump() != null) {
+            configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.PHASES_TO_DUMP_STATE, SetsKt.setOf(arguments.getPhasesToDump()));
+        }
         configuration.put(CommonConfigurationKeys.PROFILE_PHASES, arguments.getProfilePhases());
     }