diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/typecheck/src/type_check_block.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/typecheck/src/type_check_block.ts
index 34ceffb1f0..cb568f9911 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/typecheck/src/type_check_block.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/typecheck/src/type_check_block.ts
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class TcbVariableOp extends TcbOp {
     const id = this.tcb.allocateId();
     const initializer = ts.createPropertyAccess(
         /* expression */ ctx,
-        /* name */ this.variable.value);
+        /* name */ this.variable.value || '$implicit');
 
     // Declare the variable, and return its identifier.
     this.scope.addStatement(tsCreateVariable(id, initializer));
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/typecheck/test/type_check_block_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/typecheck/test/type_check_block_spec.ts
index e17e4f1a02..d215831881 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/typecheck/test/type_check_block_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/typecheck/test/type_check_block_spec.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ describe('type check blocks', () => {
     expect(tcb(TEMPLATE)).toContain('_t1.htmlFor = "test";');
   });
 
+  it('should handle implicit vars on ng-template', () => {
+    const TEMPLATE = `<ng-template let-a></ng-template>`;
+    expect(tcb(TEMPLATE)).toContain('var _t2 = _t1.$implicit;');
+  });
+
+  it('should handle implicit vars when using microsyntax', () => {
+    const TEMPLATE = `<div *ngFor="let user of users"></div>`;
+    expect(tcb(TEMPLATE)).toContain('var _t2 = _t1.$implicit;');
+  });
+
   it('should generate a forward element reference correctly', () => {
     const TEMPLATE = `
       {{ i.value }}