diff --git a/packages/elements/src/create-custom-element.ts b/packages/elements/src/create-custom-element.ts
index 79763b63de..93d5dabc2b 100644
--- a/packages/elements/src/create-custom-element.ts
+++ b/packages/elements/src/create-custom-element.ts
@@ -187,9 +187,15 @@ export function createCustomElement<P>(
   inputs.map(({propName}) => propName).forEach(property => {
     Object.defineProperty(NgElementImpl.prototype, property, {
       get: function() {
+        if (!this.ngElementStrategy) {
+          this.ngElementStrategy = strategyFactory.create(config.injector);
+        }
         return this.ngElementStrategy.getInputValue(property);
       },
       set: function(newValue: any) {
+        if (!this.ngElementStrategy) {
+          this.ngElementStrategy = strategyFactory.create(config.injector);
+        }
         this.ngElementStrategy.setInputValue(property, newValue);
       },
       configurable: true,
diff --git a/packages/elements/test/create-custom-element_spec.ts b/packages/elements/test/create-custom-element_spec.ts
index 450e1eed53..913a5aa1ff 100644
--- a/packages/elements/test/create-custom-element_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/elements/test/create-custom-element_spec.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,22 @@ if (browserDetection.supportsCustomElements) {
       expect(strategy.inputs.get('fooFoo')).toBe('foo-foo-value');
       expect(strategy.inputs.get('barBar')).toBe('barBar-value');
     });
+
+    it('should properly handle getting/setting properties on the element even if the constructor is not called',
+       () => {
+         // Create a custom element while ensuring that the `NgElementStrategy` is not created
+         // inside the constructor. This is done to emulate the behavior of some polyfills that do
+         // not call the constructor.
+         strategyFactory.create = () => undefined as unknown as NgElementStrategy;
+         const element = new NgElementCtor(injector);
+         strategyFactory.create = TestStrategyFactory.prototype.create;
+
+         element.fooFoo = 'foo-foo-value';
+         element.barBar = 'barBar-value';
+
+         expect(strategy.inputs.get('fooFoo')).toBe('foo-foo-value');
+         expect(strategy.inputs.get('barBar')).toBe('barBar-value');
+       });
   });
 }