diff --git a/src/coreclr/md/compiler/importhelper.cpp b/src/coreclr/md/compiler/importhelper.cpp
index fa95a6b7efd4a6..062011b6938643 100644
--- a/src/coreclr/md/compiler/importhelper.cpp
+++ b/src/coreclr/md/compiler/importhelper.cpp
@@ -2681,64 +2681,70 @@ HRESULT ImportHelper::ImportTypeRef(
         mdToken     tkImplementation;       // Implementation token for ExportedType.
         if (IsNilToken(tkOuterImportRes))
         {
-            // <REVISIT_TODO>BUG FIX:: URT 13626
-            // Well, before all of the clients generate AR for SPCL reference, it is not true
-            // that tkOuterImportRes == nil will imply that we have to find such an entry in the import manifest!!</REVISIT_TODO>
-
-            // Look for a ExportedType entry in the import Assembly.  Its an error
-            // if we don't find a ExportedType entry.
-            mdExportedType   tkExportedType;
-            hr = pCommonAssemImport->CommonFindExportedType(
-                                    cqaNesterNamespaces[cqaNesters.Size() - 1],
-                                    cqaNesterNames[cqaNesters.Size() - 1],
-                                    mdTokenNil,
-                                    &tkExportedType);
-            if (SUCCEEDED(hr))
-            {
-                IfFailGo(pCommonAssemImport->CommonGetExportedTypeProps(
-                    tkExportedType,
-                    NULL,
-                    NULL,
-                    &tkImplementation));
-                if (TypeFromToken(tkImplementation) == mdtFile)
-                {
-                    // Type is from a different Assembly.
-                    IfFailGo(CreateAssemblyRefFromAssembly(pMiniMdAssemEmit,
-                                                           pMiniMdEmit,
-                                                           pCommonAssemImport,
-                                                           pbHashValue,
-                                                           cbHashValue,
-                                                           &tkOuterEmitRes));
-                }
-                else if (TypeFromToken(tkImplementation) == mdtAssemblyRef)
+            if (pCommonAssemImport != NULL)
+            {                
+                // <REVISIT_TODO>BUG FIX:: URT 13626
+                // Well, before all of the clients generate AR for SPCL reference, it is not true
+                // that tkOuterImportRes == nil will imply that we have to find such an entry in the import manifest!!</REVISIT_TODO>
+
+                // Look for a ExportedType entry in the import Assembly.  Its an error
+                // if we don't find a ExportedType entry.
+                mdExportedType   tkExportedType;
+                hr = pCommonAssemImport->CommonFindExportedType(
+                                        cqaNesterNamespaces[cqaNesters.Size() - 1],
+                                        cqaNesterNames[cqaNesters.Size() - 1],
+                                        mdTokenNil,
+                                        &tkExportedType);
+                if (SUCCEEDED(hr))
                 {
-                    // This folds into the case where the Type is AssemblyRef.  So
-                    // let it fall through to that case.
+                    IfFailGo(pCommonAssemImport->CommonGetExportedTypeProps(
+                        tkExportedType,
+                        NULL,
+                        NULL,
+                        &tkImplementation));
+                    if (TypeFromToken(tkImplementation) == mdtFile)
+                    {
+                        // Type is from a different Assembly.
+                        IfFailGo(CreateAssemblyRefFromAssembly(pMiniMdAssemEmit,
+                                                            pMiniMdEmit,
+                                                            pCommonAssemImport,
+                                                            pbHashValue,
+                                                            cbHashValue,
+                                                            &tkOuterEmitRes));
+                    }
+                    else if (TypeFromToken(tkImplementation) == mdtAssemblyRef)
+                    {
+                        // This folds into the case where the Type is AssemblyRef.  So
+                        // let it fall through to that case.
 
-                    // Remember that this AssemblyRef token is actually from the Manifest scope not
-                    // the module scope!!!
-                    bAssemblyRefFromAssemScope = true;
-                    tkOuterImportRes = tkImplementation;
+                        // Remember that this AssemblyRef token is actually from the Manifest scope not
+                        // the module scope!!!
+                        bAssemblyRefFromAssemScope = true;
+                        tkOuterImportRes = tkImplementation;
+                    }
+                    else
+                        _ASSERTE(!"Unexpected ExportedType implementation token.");
                 }
                 else
-                    _ASSERTE(!"Unexpected ExportedType implementation token.");
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                // In this case, we will just move over the TypeRef with Nil ResolutionScope.
-                hr = NOERROR;
-                tkOuterEmitRes = mdTokenNil;
+                {
+                    // In this case, we will just move over the TypeRef with Nil ResolutionScope.
+                    hr = NOERROR;
+                    tkOuterEmitRes = mdTokenNil;
+                }
             }
         }
         else if (TypeFromToken(tkOuterImportRes) == mdtModule)
         {
-            // Type is from a different Assembly.
-            IfFailGo(CreateAssemblyRefFromAssembly(pMiniMdAssemEmit,
-                                                   pMiniMdEmit,
-                                                   pCommonAssemImport,
-                                                   pbHashValue,
-                                                   cbHashValue,
-                                                   &tkOuterEmitRes));
+            if (pCommonAssemImport != NULL)
+            {
+                // Type is from a different Assembly.
+                IfFailGo(CreateAssemblyRefFromAssembly(pMiniMdAssemEmit,
+                                                    pMiniMdEmit,
+                                                    pCommonAssemImport,
+                                                    pbHashValue,
+                                                    cbHashValue,
+                                                    &tkOuterEmitRes));
+            }
         }
         // Not else if, because mdtModule case above could change
         // tkOuterImportRes to an AssemblyRef.
@@ -2843,13 +2849,16 @@ HRESULT ImportHelper::ImportTypeRef(
         }
         else if (TypeFromToken(tkOuterImportRes) == mdtModuleRef)
         {
-            // Type is from a different Assembly.
-            IfFailGo(CreateAssemblyRefFromAssembly(pMiniMdAssemEmit,
-                                                   pMiniMdEmit,
-                                                   pCommonAssemImport,
-                                                   pbHashValue,
-                                                   cbHashValue,
-                                                   &tkOuterEmitRes));
+            if (pCommonAssemImport != NULL)
+            {
+                // Type is from a different Assembly.
+                IfFailGo(CreateAssemblyRefFromAssembly(pMiniMdAssemEmit,
+                                                    pMiniMdEmit,
+                                                    pCommonAssemImport,
+                                                    pbHashValue,
+                                                    cbHashValue,
+                                                    &tkOuterEmitRes));
+            }
         }
     }