diff --git a/src/tools/moc/moc.cpp b/src/tools/moc/moc.cpp
index 22cbb973646..b26fac5dcff 100644
--- a/src/tools/moc/moc.cpp
+++ b/src/tools/moc/moc.cpp
@@ -224,6 +224,10 @@ Type Moc::parseType()
             ;
         }
         if (test(LANGLE)) {
+            if (type.name.isEmpty()) {
+                // '<' cannot start a type
+                return type;
+            }
             type.name += lexemUntil(RANGLE);
         }
         if (test(SCOPE)) {
diff --git a/tests/auto/tools/moc/tst_moc.cpp b/tests/auto/tools/moc/tst_moc.cpp
index e26b02a560a..bf2d6afdb48 100644
--- a/tests/auto/tools/moc/tst_moc.cpp
+++ b/tests/auto/tools/moc/tst_moc.cpp
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ public:
         emit send(value);
     }
 
+    bool operator< ( const Sender & ) const { /* QTBUG-36834 */ return true;}
 signals:
     void send(const String::Type&);
     void send(const Int::Type&);