diff --git a/compat/operator/startWith.ts b/compat/operator/startWith.ts
index 72a09f5eb73..af1c3b800e4 100644
--- a/compat/operator/startWith.ts
+++ b/compat/operator/startWith.ts
@@ -26,5 +26,5 @@ export function startWith<T>(this: Observable<T>, ...array: Array<T | SchedulerL
  * @owner Observable
  */
 export function startWith<T>(this: Observable<T>, ...array: Array<T | SchedulerLike>): Observable<T> {
-  return higherOrder(...array)(this);
+  return higherOrder<T, T>(...array)(this);
 }