diff --git a/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts b/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
index 7f0982f2a1df..bfc057bf9fdf 100644
--- a/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
@@ -512,14 +512,13 @@ export class CdkVirtualScrollViewport extends CdkVirtualScrollable implements On
       // instead does not properly check the projected content.
       this._changeDetectorRef.markForCheck();
 
-      // Apply the content transform. The transform can't be set via an Angular binding because
-      // bypassSecurityTrustStyle is banned in Google. However the value is safe, it's composed of
-      // string literals, a variable that can only be 'X' or 'Y', and user input that is run through
-      // the `Number` function first to coerce it to a numeric value.
-      this._contentWrapper.nativeElement.style.transform = this._renderedContentTransform;
-
       afterNextRender(
         () => {
+          // Apply the content transform. The transform can't be set via an Angular binding because
+          // bypassSecurityTrustStyle is banned in Google. However the value is safe, it's composed of
+          // string literals, a variable that can only be 'X' or 'Y', and user input that is run through
+          // the `Number` function first to coerce it to a numeric value.
+          this._contentWrapper.nativeElement.style.transform = this._renderedContentTransform;
           this._isChangeDetectionPending = false;
           const runAfterChangeDetection = this._runAfterChangeDetection;
           this._runAfterChangeDetection = [];