diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/jit/module.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/jit/module.ts
index 9a89e55a83..601bcbdfc5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/jit/module.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/jit/module.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ const EMPTY_ARRAY: Type<any>[] = [];
  *
  * This function automatically gets called when a class has a `@NgModule` decorator.
  */
-export function compileNgModule(moduleType: Type<any>, ngModule: NgModule): void {
+export function compileNgModule(moduleType: Type<any>, ngModule: NgModule = {}): void {
   compileNgModuleDefs(moduleType, ngModule);
   setScopeOnDeclaredComponents(moduleType, ngModule);
 }