diff --git a/modules/@angular/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component.ts b/modules/@angular/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component.ts
index 388b3bcefb..41899f7542 100644
--- a/modules/@angular/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component.ts
+++ b/modules/@angular/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component.ts
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ export function downgradeComponent(info: /* ComponentInfo */ {
     };
   };
 
-  directiveFactory.$inject = [$COMPILE, $INJECTOR, $PARSE];
+  // bracket-notation because of closure - see #14441
+  directiveFactory['$inject'] = [$COMPILE, $INJECTOR, $PARSE];
   return directiveFactory;
 }