diff --git a/framework/tests/all-systems/Issue6856.java b/framework/tests/all-systems/Issue6856.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4d68fe83364
--- /dev/null
+++ b/framework/tests/all-systems/Issue6856.java
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import java.util.Collections;
+
+public class Issue6856 {
+  static void test(Class<String> p) {
+    var x = Collections.checkedCollection((Collections.emptyList()), p);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/javacutil/src/main/java/org/checkerframework/javacutil/TreeUtils.java b/javacutil/src/main/java/org/checkerframework/javacutil/TreeUtils.java
index 93dc1ae9041..3bf5d053d36 100644
--- a/javacutil/src/main/java/org/checkerframework/javacutil/TreeUtils.java
+++ b/javacutil/src/main/java/org/checkerframework/javacutil/TreeUtils.java
@@ -2849,6 +2849,7 @@ public static boolean isPolyExpression(ExpressionTree expression) {
    * @return whether or not {@code expression} is a standalone expression
    */
   public static boolean isStandaloneExpression(ExpressionTree expression) {
+    expression = TreeUtils.withoutParens(expression);
     if (expression instanceof JCTree.JCExpression) {
       if (((JCTree.JCExpression) expression).isStandalone()) {
         return true;