diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/dom/ast/ASTTypeUtil.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/dom/ast/ASTTypeUtil.java
index 0db08a51439..4faddcf578a 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/dom/ast/ASTTypeUtil.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/dom/ast/ASTTypeUtil.java
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ public class ASTTypeUtil {
 	 * @since 5.1
 	 */
 	public static String getArgumentListString(ICPPTemplateArgument[] args, boolean normalize) {
+		if (args.length == 0)
+			return "<>"; //$NON-NLS-1$
 		StringBuilder result= new StringBuilder();
 		appendArgumentList(args, normalize, result);
 		return result.toString();