diff --git a/runtime/bcverify/rtverify.c b/runtime/bcverify/rtverify.c
index efaaf5e3526..90daededcc5 100644
--- a/runtime/bcverify/rtverify.c
+++ b/runtime/bcverify/rtverify.c
@@ -1775,14 +1775,14 @@ verifyBytecodes (J9BytecodeVerificationData * verifyData)
 						goto _inconsistentStack2;
 					}
 				} else {
-					/* Need to ensure that there is at least an Object reference on the stack for the 
-					 * invokeinterface receiver.  If the top of stack is a base type or TOP, then 
-					 * throw a verify error.  The check for the receiver to be an interface occurs in
-					 * the invokeinterface bytecode.
-					 * Note: we need to check whether the Object reference on the stack is initialized
-					 * so as to stop an uninitialized object from being addressed here by invokeinterface.
+					/* Throw a verify error for any of the following invokeinterface scenarios:
+					 * 1. The top of the stack holds a base type or TOP
+					 * 2. The top of the stack holds an object array
+					 * 3. The Object reference on the stack is uninitialized
+					 * The check for the receiver to be an interface occurs in the bytecode interpreter.
 					 */
 					if ((BCV_TAG_BASE_TYPE_OR_TOP == (type & BCV_TAG_MASK))
+						|| ((BCV_OBJECT_OR_ARRAY == (type & BCV_TAG_MASK)) && ((type & BCV_ARITY_MASK) > 0))
 						|| J9_ARE_ANY_BITS_SET(type, BCV_SPECIAL)
 					) {
 						errorType = J9NLS_BCV_ERR_RECEIVER_NOT_COMPATIBLE__ID;
diff --git a/runtime/oti/bytecodewalk.h b/runtime/oti/bytecodewalk.h
index aac843d28d7..c4b738fe97e 100644
--- a/runtime/oti/bytecodewalk.h
+++ b/runtime/oti/bytecodewalk.h
@@ -61,10 +61,10 @@
 32bit type => [8 bits arity] [ 19 bits class index] [5 tag bits]
 
 tag bits:
-	special (new / init / ret)
-	base / object
-	base type array / regular object, array
-	null
+	base type or top of stack (clear bit means object or array)
+	base type array or null
+	special init object ("this" for <init>)
+	special new object (PC offset in upper 28 bits)
 
 base types: (in the 19bit class index field)
 	int