diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/linker/src/file_linker/linker_environment.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/linker/src/file_linker/linker_environment.ts
index c8024dc8a1..ff1401b028 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/linker/src/file_linker/linker_environment.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/linker/src/file_linker/linker_environment.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ export class LinkerEnvironment<TStatement, TExpression> {
   static create<TStatement, TExpression>(
       host: AstHost<TExpression>, factory: AstFactory<TStatement, TExpression>,
       options: Partial<LinkerOptions>): LinkerEnvironment<TStatement, TExpression> {
-    return new LinkerEnvironment(host, factory, {...DEFAULT_LINKER_OPTIONS, ...options});
+    return new LinkerEnvironment(host, factory, {
+      enableI18nLegacyMessageIdFormat: options.enableI18nLegacyMessageIdFormat ??
+          DEFAULT_LINKER_OPTIONS.enableI18nLegacyMessageIdFormat,
+      i18nNormalizeLineEndingsInICUs: options.i18nNormalizeLineEndingsInICUs ??
+          DEFAULT_LINKER_OPTIONS.i18nNormalizeLineEndingsInICUs,
+      i18nUseExternalIds: options.i18nUseExternalIds ?? DEFAULT_LINKER_OPTIONS.i18nUseExternalIds,
+    });
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/linker/src/file_linker/linker_options.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/linker/src/file_linker/linker_options.ts
index d76de5b577..9c4d8feed0 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/linker/src/file_linker/linker_options.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/linker/src/file_linker/linker_options.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ export interface LinkerOptions {
    * The default is `false`.
    */
   i18nNormalizeLineEndingsInICUs: boolean;
+
+  /**
+   * Whether translation variable name should contain external message id
+   * (used by Closure Compiler's output of `goog.getMsg` for transition period)
+   * The default is `false`.
+   */
+  i18nUseExternalIds: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -28,4 +35,5 @@ export interface LinkerOptions {
 export const DEFAULT_LINKER_OPTIONS: LinkerOptions = {
   enableI18nLegacyMessageIdFormat: true,
   i18nNormalizeLineEndingsInICUs: false,
+  i18nUseExternalIds: false,
 };