diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h b/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
index fd88e42..cebde3b 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 class HIntConstant;
 class HInvoke;
 class HGraphVisitor;
+class HNullConstant;
 class HPhi;
 class HSuspendCheck;
 class LiveInterval;
@@ -194,6 +195,8 @@
     return reverse_post_order_;
   }
 
+  HNullConstant* GetNullConstant();
+
  private:
   HBasicBlock* FindCommonDominator(HBasicBlock* first, HBasicBlock* second) const;
   void VisitBlockForDominatorTree(HBasicBlock* block,
@@ -233,6 +236,9 @@
   // The current id to assign to a newly added instruction. See HInstruction.id_.
   int32_t current_instruction_id_;
 
+  // Cached null constant that might be created when building SSA form.
+  HNullConstant* cached_null_constant_;
+
   ART_FRIEND_TEST(GraphTest, IfSuccessorSimpleJoinBlock1);
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(HGraph);
 };
@@ -610,6 +616,7 @@
   M(NewInstance, Instruction)                                           \
   M(Not, UnaryOperation)                                                \
   M(NotEqual, Condition)                                                \
+  M(NullConstant, Instruction)                                          \
   M(NullCheck, Instruction)                                             \
   M(Or, BinaryOperation)                                                \
   M(ParallelMove, Instruction)                                          \
@@ -914,7 +921,10 @@
 
   // Does not apply for all instructions, but having this at top level greatly
   // simplifies the null check elimination.
-  virtual bool CanBeNull() const { return true; }
+  virtual bool CanBeNull() const {
+    DCHECK_EQ(GetType(), Primitive::kPrimNot) << "CanBeNull only applies to reference types";
+    return true;
+  }
 
   virtual bool CanDoImplicitNullCheck() const { return false; }
 
@@ -1675,6 +1685,22 @@
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(HDoubleConstant);
 };
 
+class HNullConstant : public HConstant {
+ public:
+  HNullConstant() : HConstant(Primitive::kPrimNot) {}
+
+  bool InstructionDataEquals(HInstruction* other ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED) const OVERRIDE {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  size_t ComputeHashCode() const OVERRIDE { return 0; }
+
+  DECLARE_INSTRUCTION(NullConstant);
+
+ private:
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(HNullConstant);
+};
+
 // Constants of the type int. Those can be from Dex instructions, or
 // synthesized (for example with the if-eqz instruction).
 class HIntConstant : public HConstant {