diff --git a/Libraries/Lists/VirtualizedList.js b/Libraries/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
index ed113acda7..53475be096 100644
--- a/Libraries/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
+++ b/Libraries/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ class VirtualizedList extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     velocity: 0,
     visibleLength: 0,
   };
-  _scrollRef = (null: any);
+  _scrollRef: ?React.ElementRef<any> = null;
   _sentEndForContentLength = 0;
   _totalCellLength = 0;
   _totalCellsMeasured = 0;