diff --git a/packages/elements/src/create-custom-element.ts b/packages/elements/src/create-custom-element.ts
index 2e1069840f..8159c43b3d 100644
--- a/packages/elements/src/create-custom-element.ts
+++ b/packages/elements/src/create-custom-element.ts
@@ -144,8 +144,9 @@ export function createCustomElement<P>(
       //
       // TODO(andrewseguin): Add e2e tests that cover cases where the constructor isn't called. For
       // now this is tested using a Google internal test suite.
-      if (this._ngElementStrategy === null) {
-        const strategy = this._ngElementStrategy = strategyFactory.create(this.injector);
+      if (!this._ngElementStrategy) {
+        const strategy = this._ngElementStrategy =
+            strategyFactory.create(this.injector || config.injector);
 
         // Collect pre-existing values on the element to re-apply through the strategy.
         const preExistingValues =
@@ -173,12 +174,10 @@ export function createCustomElement<P>(
       return this._ngElementStrategy!;
     }
 
-    private readonly injector: Injector;
-    private _ngElementStrategy: NgElementStrategy|null = null;
+    private _ngElementStrategy?: NgElementStrategy;
 
-    constructor(injector?: Injector) {
+    constructor(private readonly injector?: Injector) {
       super();
-      this.injector = injector || config.injector;
     }
 
     attributeChangedCallback(
diff --git a/packages/elements/test/create-custom-element_spec.ts b/packages/elements/test/create-custom-element_spec.ts
index 3551084d72..3f9dcd5eaf 100644
--- a/packages/elements/test/create-custom-element_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/elements/test/create-custom-element_spec.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,26 @@ if (browserDetection.supportsCustomElements) {
       expect(strategy.getInputValue('barBar')).toBe('value-barbar');
     });
 
+    it('should work even if when the constructor is not called (due to polyfill)', () => {
+      // Some polyfills (e.g. `document-register-element`) do not call the constructor of custom
+      // elements. Currently, all the constructor does is initialize the `injector` property. This
+      // test simulates not having called the constructor by "unsetting" the property.
+      //
+      // NOTE:
+      // If the constructor implementation changes in the future, this test needs to be adjusted
+      // accordingly.
+      const element = new NgElementCtor(injector);
+      delete (element as any).injector;
+
+      element.setAttribute('foo-foo', 'value-foo-foo');
+      element.setAttribute('barbar', 'value-barbar');
+      element.connectedCallback();
+
+      expect(strategy.connectedElement).toBe(element);
+      expect(strategy.getInputValue('fooFoo')).toBe('value-foo-foo');
+      expect(strategy.getInputValue('barBar')).toBe('value-barbar');
+    });
+
     it('should listen to output events after connected', () => {
       const element = new NgElementCtor(injector);
       element.connectedCallback();
@@ -260,7 +280,14 @@ if (browserDetection.supportsCustomElements) {
     class TestStrategyFactory implements NgElementStrategyFactory {
       testStrategy = new TestStrategy();
 
-      create(): NgElementStrategy {
+      create(injector: Injector): NgElementStrategy {
+        // Although not used by the `TestStrategy`, verify that the injector is provided.
+        if (!injector) {
+          throw new Error(
+              'Expected injector to be passed to `TestStrategyFactory#create()`, but received ' +
+              `value of type ${typeof injector}: ${injector}`);
+        }
+
         return this.testStrategy;
       }
     }