diff --git a/packages/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component.ts b/packages/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component.ts
index 344c02a0d8..7f34c5d2a2 100644
--- a/packages/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component.ts
+++ b/packages/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {ComponentFactory, ComponentFactoryResolver, Injector, NgZone, Type} from
 import * as angular from './angular1';
 import {$COMPILE, $INJECTOR, $PARSE, INJECTOR_KEY, LAZY_MODULE_REF, REQUIRE_INJECTOR, REQUIRE_NG_MODEL} from './constants';
 import {DowngradeComponentAdapter} from './downgrade_component_adapter';
-import {LazyModuleRef, controllerKey, getTypeName, isFunction, validateInjectionKey} from './util';
+import {LazyModuleRef, UpgradeAppType, controllerKey, getTypeName, getUpgradeAppType, isFunction, validateInjectionKey} from './util';
 
 
 interface Thenable<T> {
@@ -78,12 +78,15 @@ export function downgradeComponent(info: {
                                        $compile: angular.ICompileService,
                                        $injector: angular.IInjectorService,
                                        $parse: angular.IParseService): angular.IDirective {
-    // When using `UpgradeModule`, we don't need to ensure callbacks to Angular APIs (e.g. change
-    // detection) are run inside the Angular zone, because `$digest()` will be run inside the zone
-    // (except if explicitly escaped, in which case we shouldn't force it back in).
-    // When using `downgradeModule()` though, we need to ensure such callbacks are run inside the
-    // Angular zone.
-    let needsNgZone = false;
+    // When using `downgradeModule()`, we need to handle certain things specially. For example:
+    // - We always need to attach the component view to the `ApplicationRef` for it to be
+    //   dirty-checked.
+    // - We need to ensure callbacks to Angular APIs (e.g. change detection) are run inside the
+    //   Angular zone.
+    //   NOTE: This is not needed, when using `UpgradeModule`, because `$digest()` will be run
+    //         inside the Angular zone (except if explicitly escaped, in which case we shouldn't
+    //         force it back in).
+    let isNgUpgradeLite = false;
     let wrapCallback = <T>(cb: () => T) => cb;
     let ngZone: NgZone;
 
@@ -109,7 +112,7 @@ export function downgradeComponent(info: {
           validateInjectionKey($injector, downgradedModule, lazyModuleRefKey, attemptedAction);
 
           const lazyModuleRef = $injector.get(lazyModuleRefKey) as LazyModuleRef;
-          needsNgZone = lazyModuleRef.needsNgZone;
+          isNgUpgradeLite = getUpgradeAppType($injector) === UpgradeAppType.Lite;
           parentInjector = lazyModuleRef.injector || lazyModuleRef.promise as Promise<Injector>;
         }
 
@@ -130,7 +133,7 @@ export function downgradeComponent(info: {
 
           const projectableNodes = facade.compileContents();
           facade.createComponent(projectableNodes);
-          facade.setupInputs(needsNgZone, info.propagateDigest);
+          facade.setupInputs(isNgUpgradeLite, info.propagateDigest);
           facade.setupOutputs();
           facade.registerCleanup();
 
@@ -143,7 +146,7 @@ export function downgradeComponent(info: {
           }
         };
 
-        const downgradeFn = !needsNgZone ? doDowngrade : (injector: Injector) => {
+        const downgradeFn = !isNgUpgradeLite ? doDowngrade : (injector: Injector) => {
           if (!ngZone) {
             ngZone = injector.get(NgZone);
             wrapCallback = <T>(cb: () => T) => () =>
diff --git a/packages/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component_adapter.ts b/packages/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component_adapter.ts
index d4813554f2..b11b8bca50 100644
--- a/packages/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component_adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component_adapter.ts
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ export class DowngradeComponentAdapter {
     hookupNgModel(this.ngModel, this.component);
   }
 
-  setupInputs(needsNgZone: boolean, propagateDigest = true): void {
+  setupInputs(manuallyAttachView: boolean, propagateDigest = true): void {
     const attrs = this.attrs;
     const inputs = this.componentFactory.inputs || [];
     for (let i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++) {
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ export class DowngradeComponentAdapter {
 
     // If necessary, attach the view so that it will be dirty-checked.
     // (Allow time for the initial input values to be set and `ngOnChanges()` to be called.)
-    if (needsNgZone || !propagateDigest) {
+    if (manuallyAttachView || !propagateDigest) {
       let unwatch: Function|null = this.componentScope.$watch(() => {
         unwatch !();
         unwatch = null;
diff --git a/packages/upgrade/src/common/util.ts b/packages/upgrade/src/common/util.ts
index f1cfae9627..08461d91bb 100644
--- a/packages/upgrade/src/common/util.ts
+++ b/packages/upgrade/src/common/util.ts
@@ -109,9 +109,6 @@ export class Deferred<R> {
 }
 
 export interface LazyModuleRef {
-  // Whether the AngularJS app has been bootstrapped outside the Angular zone
-  // (in which case calls to Angular APIs need to be brought back in).
-  needsNgZone: boolean;
   injector?: Injector;
   promise?: Promise<Injector>;
 }
diff --git a/packages/upgrade/src/dynamic/upgrade_adapter.ts b/packages/upgrade/src/dynamic/upgrade_adapter.ts
index f7ab728c4d..a46caa5df0 100644
--- a/packages/upgrade/src/dynamic/upgrade_adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/upgrade/src/dynamic/upgrade_adapter.ts
@@ -510,10 +510,7 @@ export class UpgradeAdapter {
         .factory(INJECTOR_KEY, () => this.moduleRef !.injector.get(Injector))
         .factory(
             LAZY_MODULE_REF,
-            [
-              INJECTOR_KEY,
-              (injector: Injector) => ({ injector, needsNgZone: false } as LazyModuleRef)
-            ])
+            [INJECTOR_KEY, (injector: Injector) => ({ injector } as LazyModuleRef)])
         .constant(NG_ZONE_KEY, this.ngZone)
         .factory(COMPILER_KEY, () => this.moduleRef !.injector.get(Compiler))
         .config([
diff --git a/packages/upgrade/src/static/downgrade_module.ts b/packages/upgrade/src/static/downgrade_module.ts
index 08c512d5a3..7d3591a9fe 100644
--- a/packages/upgrade/src/static/downgrade_module.ts
+++ b/packages/upgrade/src/static/downgrade_module.ts
@@ -139,7 +139,6 @@ export function downgradeModule<T>(
             ($injector: angular.IInjectorService) => {
               setTempInjectorRef($injector);
               const result: LazyModuleRef = {
-                needsNgZone: true,
                 promise: bootstrapFn(angular1Providers).then(ref => {
                   injector = result.injector = new NgAdapterInjector(ref.injector);
                   injector.get($INJECTOR);
diff --git a/packages/upgrade/src/static/upgrade_module.ts b/packages/upgrade/src/static/upgrade_module.ts
index c9ade2025f..739b1dc23c 100644
--- a/packages/upgrade/src/static/upgrade_module.ts
+++ b/packages/upgrade/src/static/upgrade_module.ts
@@ -179,10 +179,7 @@ export class UpgradeModule {
 
             .factory(
                 LAZY_MODULE_REF,
-                [
-                  INJECTOR_KEY,
-                  (injector: Injector) => ({ injector, needsNgZone: false } as LazyModuleRef)
-                ])
+                [INJECTOR_KEY, (injector: Injector) => ({ injector } as LazyModuleRef)])
 
             .config([
               $PROVIDE, $INJECTOR,