diff --git a/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts b/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
index 2776e85bb2..132c3891fb 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
@@ -289,10 +289,6 @@ export class R3Injector {
       return false;
     }
 
-    // Track the InjectorType and add a provider for it.
-    this.injectorDefTypes.add(defType);
-    this.records.set(defType, makeRecord(def.factory, NOT_YET));
-
     // Add providers in the same way that @NgModule resolution did:
 
     // First, include providers from any imports.
@@ -330,6 +326,10 @@ export class R3Injector {
         }
       }
     }
+    // Track the InjectorType and add a provider for it. It's important that this is done after the
+    // def's imports.
+    this.injectorDefTypes.add(defType);
+    this.records.set(defType, makeRecord(def.factory, NOT_YET));
 
     // Next, include providers listed on the definition itself.
     const defProviders = def.providers;
diff --git a/packages/core/test/acceptance/ng_module_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/acceptance/ng_module_spec.ts
index cd21f1617e..ec9c5be0d8 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/acceptance/ng_module_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/acceptance/ng_module_spec.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
  */
 
 import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
-import {CUSTOM_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA, Component, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA, NgModule, ɵsetClassMetadata as setClassMetadata, ɵɵdefineComponent as defineComponent, ɵɵdefineInjector as defineInjector, ɵɵdefineNgModule as defineNgModule, ɵɵelement as element} from '@angular/core';
-
+import {CUSTOM_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA, Component, Injectable, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA, NgModule, ɵsetClassMetadata as setClassMetadata, ɵɵdefineComponent as defineComponent, ɵɵdefineInjector as defineInjector, ɵɵdefineNgModule as defineNgModule, ɵɵelement as element} from '@angular/core';
 import {TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
+import {expect} from '@angular/platform-browser/testing/src/matchers';
 import {modifiedInIvy, onlyInIvy} from '@angular/private/testing';
 
 describe('NgModule', () => {
@@ -77,6 +77,25 @@ describe('NgModule', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('initializes the module imports before the module itself', () => {
+    @Injectable()
+    class Service {
+      initializations: string[] = [];
+    }
+    @NgModule({providers: [Service]})
+    class RoutesModule {
+      constructor(service: Service) { service.initializations.push('RoutesModule'); }
+    }
+
+    @NgModule({imports: [RoutesModule]})
+    class AppModule {
+      constructor(service: Service) { service.initializations.push('AppModule'); }
+    }
+
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({imports: [AppModule]});
+    expect(TestBed.inject(Service).initializations).toEqual(['RoutesModule', 'AppModule']);
+  });
+
   describe('schemas', () => {
     onlyInIvy('Unknown property warning logged instead of throwing an error')
         .it('should throw on unknown props if NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA is absent', () => {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/di/r3_injector_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/di/r3_injector_spec.ts
index 292bd079d1..fb48a634b8 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/di/r3_injector_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/di/r3_injector_spec.ts
@@ -267,6 +267,30 @@ describe('InjectorDef-based createInjector()', () => {
     injector = createInjector(Module);
   });
 
+  it('initializes imported modules before the module being declared', () => {
+    const moduleRegistrations: string[] = [];
+
+    class ChildModule {
+      static ɵinj = ɵɵdefineInjector({
+        factory: () => new ChildModule(),
+        imports: undefined,
+        providers: [],
+      });
+      constructor() { moduleRegistrations.push('ChildModule'); }
+    }
+
+    class RootModule {
+      static ɵinj = ɵɵdefineInjector({
+        factory: () => new RootModule(),
+        imports: [ChildModule],
+        providers: [],
+      });
+      constructor() { moduleRegistrations.push('RootModule'); }
+    }
+    createInjector(RootModule);
+    expect(moduleRegistrations).toEqual(['ChildModule', 'RootModule']);
+  });
+
   it('injects a simple class', () => {
     const instance = injector.get(Service);
     expect(instance instanceof Service).toBeTruthy();