diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h b/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
index 9d0b4a9..4706b3b 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
@@ -1669,7 +1669,12 @@
   uint16_t GetTypeIndex() const { return type_index_; }
 
   // Calls runtime so needs an environment.
-  virtual bool NeedsEnvironment() const { return true; }
+  bool NeedsEnvironment() const OVERRIDE { return true; }
+  // It may throw when called on:
+  //   - interfaces
+  //   - abstract/innaccessible/unknown classes
+  // TODO: optimize when possible.
+  bool CanThrow() const OVERRIDE { return true; }
 
   DECLARE_INSTRUCTION(NewInstance);
 
diff --git a/test/435-new-instance/expected.txt b/test/435-new-instance/expected.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/435-new-instance/expected.txt
diff --git a/test/435-new-instance/info.txt b/test/435-new-instance/info.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f30c1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/435-new-instance/info.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+Tests that new-instance throws:
+- InstantiationError on interfaces and abstract classes
+- IllegalAccessError on inaccessible classes
+- NoClassDefFoundError on unknown classes
+
+This also verifies that we don't remove dead (code) new-instances which may
+throw.
diff --git a/test/435-new-instance/smali/instance.smali b/test/435-new-instance/smali/instance.smali
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2189498
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/435-new-instance/smali/instance.smali
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+.class public LNewInstance;
+.super Ljava/lang/Object;
+
+.method public constructor <init>()V
+      .registers 1
+       invoke-direct {v0}, Ljava/lang/Object;-><init>()V
+       return-void
+.end method
+
+.method public newInstanceInterface()Ljava/lang/Object;
+      .registers 5
+      new-instance v1, LTestInterface;
+      # invoke-direct {v3}, LTestInterface;-><init>()V
+      # intentionally return v4 ("this")
+      return-object v4
+.end method
+
+.method public newInstanceClass()Ljava/lang/Object;
+      .registers 5
+      new-instance v1, LTestClass;
+      # invoke-direct {v3}, LTestClass;-><init>()V
+      # intentionally return v4 ("this")
+      return-object v4
+.end method
+
+.method public newInstancePrivateClass()Ljava/lang/Object;
+      .registers 5
+      new-instance v1, Lpkg/ProtectedClass;
+      # invoke-direct {v3}, Lpck/ProtectedClass;-><init>()V
+      # intentionally return v4 ("this")
+      return-object v4
+.end method
+
+.method public newInstanceUnknownClass()Ljava/lang/Object;
+      .registers 5
+      new-instance v1, LUnknownClass;
+      # invoke-direct {v3}, LUnknownClass;-><init>()V
+      # intentionally return v4 ("this")
+      return-object v4
+.end method
diff --git a/test/435-new-instance/src/Main.java b/test/435-new-instance/src/Main.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5431ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/435-new-instance/src/Main.java
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
+import java.lang.reflect.Method;
+
+public class Main {
+
+  public static void main(String[] args) throws Throwable {
+    // Attempt to instantiate an interface.
+    $opt$NewInstance("newInstanceInterface", InstantiationError.class.getCanonicalName());
+    // Attempt to instantiate an abstract class.
+    $opt$NewInstance("newInstanceClass", InstantiationError.class.getCanonicalName());
+    // Attempt to instantiate an interface.
+    $opt$NewInstance("newInstancePrivateClass", IllegalAccessError.class.getCanonicalName());
+    // Attempt to instantiate an abstract class.
+    $opt$NewInstance("newInstanceUnknownClass", NoClassDefFoundError.class.getCanonicalName());
+  }
+
+  private static void $opt$NewInstance(String method, String errorName) throws Throwable {
+    try {
+      Class<?> c = Class.forName("NewInstance");
+      Method m = c.getMethod(method);
+      m.invoke(c.newInstance());
+      throw new RuntimeException("Failed to throw " + errorName);
+    } catch (InvocationTargetException e) {
+      if (!e.getCause().getClass().getCanonicalName().equals(errorName)) {
+        throw new RuntimeException("Failed to throw " + errorName
+            + ". Threw: " + e.getCause());
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/435-new-instance/src/TestClass.java b/test/435-new-instance/src/TestClass.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15b0a0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/435-new-instance/src/TestClass.java
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+public abstract class TestClass {
+  // Bogus fields to satisfy dex merger. See b/18051191
+  public int val;
+  public void method() {};
+}
diff --git a/test/435-new-instance/src/TestInterface.java b/test/435-new-instance/src/TestInterface.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db6f3e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/435-new-instance/src/TestInterface.java
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+public interface TestInterface {
+  public void method();
+}
diff --git a/test/435-new-instance/src/pkg/ProtectedClass.java b/test/435-new-instance/src/pkg/ProtectedClass.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b262155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/435-new-instance/src/pkg/ProtectedClass.java
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package pkg;
+
+class ProtectedClass {
+}