diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
index d79e2cd..b9a6811 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_expr.vim
@@ -1513,6 +1513,10 @@
   	2] [3,
 		4]
 
+  let llstring: list<list<string>> = [['text'], []]
+  llstring = [[], ['text']]
+  llstring = [[], []]
+
   CheckDefFailure(["let x = 1234[3]"], 'E1107:', 1)
   CheckDefExecFailure(["let x = g:anint[3]"], 'E1062:', 1)
 
@@ -1718,6 +1722,14 @@
   mixed = #{a: 234}
   mixed = #{}
 
+  let dictlist: dict<list<string>> = #{absent: [], present: ['hi']}
+  dictlist = #{absent: ['hi'], present: []}
+  dictlist = #{absent: [], present: []}
+
+  let dictdict: dict<dict<string>> = #{one: #{a: 'text'}, two: #{}}
+  dictdict = #{one: #{}, two: #{a: 'text'}}
+  dictdict = #{one: #{}, two: #{}}
+ 
   CheckDefFailure(["let x = #{a:8}"], 'E1069:', 1)
   CheckDefFailure(["let x = #{a : 8}"], 'E1068:', 1)
   CheckDefFailure(["let x = #{a :8}"], 'E1068:', 1)
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 60aa105..3b1f963 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -751,6 +751,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    1710,
+/**/
     1709,
 /**/
     1708,
diff --git a/src/vim9type.c b/src/vim9type.c
index cc879d0..a7ffd32 100644
--- a/src/vim9type.c
+++ b/src/vim9type.c
@@ -869,6 +869,19 @@
 	return;
     }
 
+    // If either is VAR_UNKNOWN use the other type.  An empty list/dict has no
+    // specific type.
+    if (type1->tt_type == VAR_UNKNOWN)
+    {
+	*dest = type2;
+	return;
+    }
+    if (type2->tt_type == VAR_UNKNOWN)
+    {
+	*dest = type1;
+	return;
+    }
+
     if (type1->tt_type == type2->tt_type)
     {
 	if (type1->tt_type == VAR_LIST || type2->tt_type == VAR_DICT)
@@ -932,7 +945,7 @@
 
     // Use "any" for an empty list or dict.
     if (count == 0)
-	return &t_void;
+	return &t_unknown;
 
     // Use the first value type for the list member type, then find the common
     // type from following items.