diff --git a/packages/core/src/linker/ng_module_factory_registration.ts b/packages/core/src/linker/ng_module_factory_registration.ts
index e63314323f..60ed6d603d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/linker/ng_module_factory_registration.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/linker/ng_module_factory_registration.ts
@@ -37,10 +37,21 @@ function assertSameOrNotExisting(id: string, type: Type<any>| null, incoming: Ty
   }
 }
 
-export function registerNgModuleType(id: string, ngModuleType: NgModuleType) {
-  const existing = modules.get(id) as NgModuleType | null;
-  assertSameOrNotExisting(id, existing, ngModuleType);
-  modules.set(id, ngModuleType);
+export function registerNgModuleType(ngModuleType: NgModuleType) {
+  if (ngModuleType.ngModuleDef.id !== null) {
+    const id = ngModuleType.ngModuleDef.id;
+    const existing = modules.get(id) as NgModuleType | null;
+    assertSameOrNotExisting(id, existing, ngModuleType);
+    modules.set(id, ngModuleType);
+  }
+
+  let imports = ngModuleType.ngModuleDef.imports;
+  if (imports instanceof Function) {
+    imports = imports();
+  }
+  if (imports) {
+    imports.forEach((i: NgModuleType<any>) => registerNgModuleType(i));
+  }
 }
 
 export function clearModulesForTest(): void {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/ng_module_ref.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/ng_module_ref.ts
index 96b88d10ae..f46b63e0b6 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/ng_module_ref.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/ng_module_ref.ts
@@ -92,14 +92,39 @@ export class NgModuleRef<T> extends viewEngine_NgModuleRef<T> implements Interna
 }
 
 export class NgModuleFactory<T> extends viewEngine_NgModuleFactory<T> {
-  constructor(public moduleType: Type<T>) { super(); }
+  constructor(public moduleType: Type<T>) {
+    super();
+
+    const ngModuleDef = getNgModuleDef(moduleType);
+    if (ngModuleDef !== null) {
+      // Register the NgModule with Angular's module registry. The location (and hence timing) of
+      // this call is critical to ensure this works correctly (modules get registered when expected)
+      // without bloating bundles (modules are registered when otherwise not referenced).
+      //
+      // In View Engine, registration occurs in the .ngfactory.js file as a side effect. This has
+      // several practical consequences:
+      //
+      // - If an .ngfactory file is not imported from, the module won't be registered (and can be
+      //   tree shaken).
+      // - If an .ngfactory file is imported from, the module will be registered even if an instance
+      //   is not actually created (via `create` below).
+      // - Since an .ngfactory file in View Engine references the .ngfactory files of the NgModule's
+      //   imports,
+      //
+      // In Ivy, things are a bit different. .ngfactory files still exist for compatibility, but are
+      // not a required API to use - there are other ways to obtain an NgModuleFactory for a given
+      // NgModule. Thus, relying on a side effect in the .ngfactory file is not sufficient. Instead,
+      // the side effect of registration is added here, in the constructor of NgModuleFactory,
+      // ensuring no matter how a factory is created, the module is registered correctly.
+      //
+      // An alternative would be to include the registration side effect inline following the actual
+      // NgModule definition. This also has the correct timing, but breaks tree-shaking - modules
+      // will be registered and retained even if they're otherwise never referenced.
+      registerNgModuleType(moduleType as NgModuleType);
+    }
+  }
 
   create(parentInjector: Injector|null): viewEngine_NgModuleRef<T> {
-    const moduleType = this.moduleType;
-    const moduleRef = new NgModuleRef(moduleType, parentInjector);
-    const ngModuleDef = getNgModuleDef(moduleType);
-    ngModuleDef && ngModuleDef.id &&
-        registerNgModuleType(ngModuleDef.id, moduleType as NgModuleType);
-    return moduleRef;
+    return new NgModuleRef(this.moduleType, parentInjector);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/linker/ng_module_integration_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/linker/ng_module_integration_spec.ts
index 54ce976a3a..ee6eee8241 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/linker/ng_module_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/linker/ng_module_integration_spec.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import {ANALYZE_FOR_ENTRY_COMPONENTS, CUSTOM_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA, ChangeDetectorRef, Compiler, Component, ComponentFactoryResolver, Directive, HostBinding, Inject, Injectable, InjectionToken, Injector, Input, NgModule, NgModuleRef, Optional, Pipe, Provider, Self, Type, forwardRef, getModuleFactory, ɵivyEnabled as ivyEnabled} from '@angular/core';
+import {ANALYZE_FOR_ENTRY_COMPONENTS, CUSTOM_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA, ChangeDetectorRef, Compiler, Component, ComponentFactoryResolver, Directive, HostBinding, Inject, Injectable, InjectionToken, Injector, Input, NgModule, NgModuleRef, Optional, Pipe, Provider, Self, Type, forwardRef, getModuleFactory, ɵivyEnabled as ivyEnabled, ɵɵdefineNgModule as defineNgModule} from '@angular/core';
 import {Console} from '@angular/core/src/console';
 import {ɵɵInjectableDef, ɵɵdefineInjectable} from '@angular/core/src/di/interface/defs';
 import {getNgModuleDef} from '@angular/core/src/render3/definition';
@@ -339,6 +339,28 @@ function declareTests(config?: {useJit: boolean}) {
           }
         }).not.toThrow();
       });
+
+      onlyInIvy('VE does not allow use of NgModuleFactory without importing the .ngfactory')
+          .it('should register a module even if not importing the .ngfactory file or calling create()',
+              () => {
+                class ChildModule {
+                  static ngModuleDef = defineNgModule({
+                    type: ChildModule,
+                    id: 'child',
+                  });
+                }
+
+                class Module {
+                  static ngModuleDef = defineNgModule({
+                    type: Module,
+                    id: 'test',
+                    imports: [ChildModule],
+                  });
+                }
+
+                createModuleFactory(ChildModule);
+                expect(getModuleFactory('child')).toBeAnInstanceOf(NgModuleFactory);
+              });
     });
 
     describe('entryComponents', () => {