diff --git a/src/libraries/System.Private.CoreLib/src/System/Runtime/InteropServices/CollectionsMarshal.cs b/src/libraries/System.Private.CoreLib/src/System/Runtime/InteropServices/CollectionsMarshal.cs
index e3cecd684abf6a..95115864488f19 100644
--- a/src/libraries/System.Private.CoreLib/src/System/Runtime/InteropServices/CollectionsMarshal.cs
+++ b/src/libraries/System.Private.CoreLib/src/System/Runtime/InteropServices/CollectionsMarshal.cs
@@ -91,7 +91,11 @@ public static void SetCount<T>(List<T> list, int count)
 
             list._version++;
 
-            if (count > list.Capacity)
+            if (list.Capacity == 0)
+            {
+                list._items = new T[count];
+            }
+            else if (count > list.Capacity)
             {
                 list.Grow(count);
             }