diff --git a/src/VisualStudio/Core/Def/Implementation/ProjectSystem/MetadataReferences/VisualStudioMetadataReferenceManager.cs b/src/VisualStudio/Core/Def/Implementation/ProjectSystem/MetadataReferences/VisualStudioMetadataReferenceManager.cs
index f8dd8f52e8fa37f24346d2f5c42e1dd5d63f990f..99ec3ad5b46f6d397bbfe38a9941ab4353c0bc86 100644
--- a/src/VisualStudio/Core/Def/Implementation/ProjectSystem/MetadataReferences/VisualStudioMetadataReferenceManager.cs
+++ b/src/VisualStudio/Core/Def/Implementation/ProjectSystem/MetadataReferences/VisualStudioMetadataReferenceManager.cs
@@ -335,7 +335,10 @@ private bool TryGetFileMappingFromMetadataImporter(FileKey fileKey, out IMetaDat
                 moduleBuilder.Add(metadata);
             }
 
-            var modules = moduleBuilder.ToImmutableAndFree();
+            var modules = moduleBuilder.Count > 0
+                ? moduleBuilder.ToImmutable()
+                : ImmutableArray.Create(manifestModule);
+            moduleBuilder.Free();
             return AssemblyMetadata.Create(modules);
         }
     }