diff --git a/platform/core-api/src/com/intellij/lang/FCTSBackedLighterAST.java b/platform/core-api/src/com/intellij/lang/FCTSBackedLighterAST.java
index 3eac3fb46a36..33151bba0359 100644
--- a/platform/core-api/src/com/intellij/lang/FCTSBackedLighterAST.java
+++ b/platform/core-api/src/com/intellij/lang/FCTSBackedLighterAST.java
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public class FCTSBackedLighterAST extends LighterAST {
     }
     LighterASTNode[] elements = into.get();
     assert elements != null : myTreeStructure +" ("+parent+")";
-    return ContainerUtil.newArrayList(elements, 0, numKids);
+    return new LighterASTNodeList(numKids, elements);
   }
 
   public void disposeChildren(@NotNull List<LighterASTNode> children) {