diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/parser/tests/ast2/AST2Tests.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/parser/tests/ast2/AST2Tests.java
index a08aa632b61..b76f0822338 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/parser/tests/ast2/AST2Tests.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/core/parser/tests/ast2/AST2Tests.java
@@ -3892,4 +3892,20 @@ public class AST2Tests extends AST2BaseTest {
 		parse( buffer.toString(), ParserLanguage.C);
 		assertTrue(System.currentTimeMillis()-time < 1000);
 	}
+	
+	// int array[12]= {};
+	public void testBug196468_emptyArrayInitializer() throws Exception {
+		StringBuffer buffer = getContents(1)[0];
+		final String content = buffer.toString();
+		parse( content, ParserLanguage.CPP, false); 
+		parse( content, ParserLanguage.CPP, true); 
+		parse( content, ParserLanguage.C, true);
+		try {
+			parse( content, ParserLanguage.C, false);
+			fail("C89 does not allow empty braces in array initializer");
+		}
+		catch (ParserException e) {
+		}
+	}
+	
 }
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/GNUCSourceParser.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/GNUCSourceParser.java
index 18e6a46abc5..0285011f58c 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/GNUCSourceParser.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/GNUCSourceParser.java
@@ -179,6 +179,14 @@ public class GNUCSourceParser extends AbstractGNUSourceCodeParser {
             consume();
             IASTInitializerList result = createInitializerList();
             ((ASTNode) result).setOffset(startingOffset);
+            
+            // bug 196468, gcc accepts empty braces.
+            if (supportGCCStyleDesignators && LT(1) == (IToken.tRBRACE)) {
+                int l = consume().getEndOffset();
+                ((ASTNode) result).setLength(l - startingOffset);
+                return result;
+            }
+
             for (;;) {
                 int checkHashcode = LA(1).hashCode();
                 // required at least one initializer list