diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_assign.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_assign.vim
index 57d205c..7e382c2 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_assign.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_assign.vim
@@ -740,6 +740,7 @@
 enddef
 
 def Test_extend_list()
+  # using uninitilaized list assigns empty list
   var lines =<< trim END
       var l1: list<number>
       var l2 = l1
@@ -757,7 +758,7 @@
   END
   v9.CheckDefAndScriptSuccess(lines)
 
-  # appending to NULL list from a function
+  # appending to uninitialzed list from a function works
   lines =<< trim END
       vim9script
       var list: list<string>
@@ -779,13 +780,30 @@
   END
   v9.CheckScriptSuccess(lines)
 
+  # initialized to null, with type, does not default to empty list
   lines =<< trim END
       vim9script
       var l: list<string> = test_null_list()
       extend(l, ['x'])
-      assert_equal(['x'], l)
   END
-  v9.CheckScriptSuccess(lines)
+  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1134:', 3)
+
+  # initialized to null, without type, does not default to empty list
+  lines =<< trim END
+      vim9script
+      var l = null_list
+      extend(l, ['x'])
+  END
+  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1134:', 3)
+
+  # assigned null, does not default to empty list
+  lines =<< trim END
+      vim9script
+      var l: list<string>
+      l = null_list
+      extend(l, ['x'])
+  END
+  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1134:', 4)
 
   lines =<< trim END
       vim9script
@@ -838,9 +856,8 @@
       vim9script
       var d: dict<string> = test_null_dict()
       extend(d, {a: 'x'})
-      assert_equal({a: 'x'}, d)
   END
-  v9.CheckScriptSuccess(lines)
+  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1133:', 3)
 
   lines =<< trim END
       vim9script
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_builtin.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_builtin.vim
index b20ff14..9e60666 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_builtin.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_builtin.vim
@@ -153,13 +153,21 @@
   END
   v9.CheckDefExecFailure(lines, 'E1130:', 2)
 
-  # Getting variable with NULL list allocates a new list at script level
+  # Getting an uninitialized variable allocates a new list at script level
+  lines =<< trim END
+      vim9script
+      var l: list<number>
+      add(l, 123)
+  END
+  v9.CheckScriptSuccess(lines)
+
+  # Adding to a variable set to a NULL list fails
   lines =<< trim END
       vim9script
       var l: list<number> = test_null_list()
       add(l, 123)
   END
-  v9.CheckScriptSuccess(lines)
+  v9.CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1130:', 3)
 
   lines =<< trim END
       vim9script