diff --git a/src/mscorlib/src/System/Collections/Generic/Dictionary.cs b/src/mscorlib/src/System/Collections/Generic/Dictionary.cs
index 5ad90f93e754..0686aee19d8d 100644
--- a/src/mscorlib/src/System/Collections/Generic/Dictionary.cs
+++ b/src/mscorlib/src/System/Collections/Generic/Dictionary.cs
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ private ref Entry FindEntryDefaultComparer(TKey key, out bool found)
             }
 
             found = false;
-            return ref s_nullEntry;
+            return ref NotFound;
         }
 
         private ref Entry FindEntryCustomComparer(TKey key, IEqualityComparer<TKey> comparer, out bool found)
@@ -416,7 +416,13 @@ private ref Entry FindEntryCustomComparer(TKey key, IEqualityComparer<TKey> comp
             }
 
             found = false;
-            return ref s_nullEntry;
+            return ref NotFound;
+        }
+
+        private static ref Entry NotFound
+        {
+            [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.NoInlining)]
+            get => ref s_nullEntry;
         }
 
         private int[] Initialize(int capacity)