diff --git a/pmd-java/etc/grammar/Java.jjt b/pmd-java/etc/grammar/Java.jjt
index f3d9cdba16..9b2ed9cfec 100644
--- a/pmd-java/etc/grammar/Java.jjt
+++ b/pmd-java/etc/grammar/Java.jjt
@@ -1566,7 +1566,7 @@ void ReferenceType():
 {
    PrimitiveType() ( LOOKAHEAD(2) "[" "]" { jjtThis.bumpArrayDepth(); })+
   |
-   ( ClassOrInterfaceType() ) ( LOOKAHEAD(2) "[" "]" { jjtThis.bumpArrayDepth(); })*
+   ( ClassOrInterfaceType() (Annotation() {checkForBadTypeAnnotations();})*) ( LOOKAHEAD(2) "[" "]" { jjtThis.bumpArrayDepth(); })*
 }
 
 void ClassOrInterfaceType():
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/ast/ParserCornerCases18.java b/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/ast/ParserCornerCases18.java
index 7818b6f8f7..00d8237754 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/ast/ParserCornerCases18.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/ast/ParserCornerCases18.java
@@ -168,6 +168,11 @@ public class ParserCornerCases18 {
     public List<@AnnotatedUsage ?> testWildCardWithAnnotation() {
     	return null;
     }
+    
+	public Object @Nullable [] testAnnotationsToArrayElements() {
+		return null;
+	}
+
 
     /**
      * Explicit receiver Parameters