diff --git a/pkg/compiler/lib/src/elements/types.dart b/pkg/compiler/lib/src/elements/types.dart
index 8a660e2..bfd7666 100644
--- a/pkg/compiler/lib/src/elements/types.dart
+++ b/pkg/compiler/lib/src/elements/types.dart
@@ -313,8 +313,13 @@
   final ClassEntity element;
   final List<DartType> typeArguments;
 
-  InterfaceType._(this.element, this.typeArguments)
-      : assert(typeArguments.every((e) => e != null));
+  InterfaceType._allocate(this.element, this.typeArguments);
+
+  factory InterfaceType._(ClassEntity element, List<DartType> typeArguments) {
+    assert(typeArguments.every((e) => e != null));
+    if (typeArguments.isEmpty) typeArguments = const [];
+    return InterfaceType._allocate(element, typeArguments);
+  }
 
   factory InterfaceType._readFromDataSource(
       DataSource source, List<FunctionTypeVariable> functionTypeVariables) {
diff --git a/tools/VERSION b/tools/VERSION
index 50818f4..3c69ed8 100644
--- a/tools/VERSION
+++ b/tools/VERSION
@@ -27,5 +27,5 @@
 MAJOR 2
 MINOR 12
 PATCH 0
-PRERELEASE 181
+PRERELEASE 182
 PRERELEASE_PATCH 0
\ No newline at end of file