diff --git a/mypyc/irbuild/builder.py b/mypyc/irbuild/builder.py
index f37fae608083..5e1ea52eb9a0 100644
--- a/mypyc/irbuild/builder.py
+++ b/mypyc/irbuild/builder.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
     Statement,
     SymbolNode,
     TupleExpr,
+    TypeAlias,
     TypeInfo,
     UnaryExpr,
     Var,
@@ -1018,7 +1019,8 @@ def call_refexpr_with_args(
 
         # Handle data-driven special-cased primitive call ops.
         if callee.fullname and expr.arg_kinds == [ARG_POS] * len(arg_values):
-            call_c_ops_candidates = function_ops.get(callee.fullname, [])
+            fullname = get_call_target_fullname(callee)
+            call_c_ops_candidates = function_ops.get(fullname, [])
             target = self.builder.matching_call_c(
                 call_c_ops_candidates, arg_values, expr.line, self.node_type(expr)
             )
@@ -1349,3 +1351,12 @@ def remangle_redefinition_name(name: str) -> str:
     lookups.
     """
     return name.replace("'", "__redef__")
+
+
+def get_call_target_fullname(ref: RefExpr) -> str:
+    if isinstance(ref.node, TypeAlias):
+        # Resolve simple type aliases. In calls they evaluate to the type they point to.
+        target = get_proper_type(ref.node.target)
+        if isinstance(target, Instance):
+            return target.type.fullname
+    return ref.fullname
diff --git a/mypyc/test-data/irbuild-lists.test b/mypyc/test-data/irbuild-lists.test
index cb9687a2f942..eaeff9432446 100644
--- a/mypyc/test-data/irbuild-lists.test
+++ b/mypyc/test-data/irbuild-lists.test
@@ -84,6 +84,22 @@ L0:
     x = r0
     return 1
 
+[case testNewListEmptyViaAlias]
+from typing import List
+
+ListAlias = list
+
+def f() -> None:
+    x: List[int] = ListAlias()
+
+[out]
+def f():
+    r0, x :: list
+L0:
+    r0 = PyList_New(0)
+    x = r0
+    return 1
+
 [case testNewListTwoItems]
 from typing import List
 def f() -> None: