diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/transformers/program.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/transformers/program.ts
index 0b045509b6..a8a8e5d696 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/transformers/program.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/transformers/program.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,36 @@ import {PartialModuleMetadataTransformer} from './r3_metadata_transform';
 import {getAngularClassTransformerFactory} from './r3_transform';
 import {DTS, GENERATED_FILES, StructureIsReused, TS, createMessageDiagnostic, isInRootDir, ngToTsDiagnostic, tsStructureIsReused, userError} from './util';
 
+// Closure compiler transforms the form `Service.ngInjectableDef = X` into
+// `Service$ngInjectableDef = X`. To prevent this transformation, such assignments need to be
+// annotated with @nocollapse. Unfortunately, a bug in Typescript where comments aren't propagated
+// through the TS transformations precludes adding the comment via the AST. This workaround detects
+// the static assignments to R3 properties such as ngInjectableDef using a regex, as output files
+// are written, and applies the annotation through regex replacement.
+//
+// TODO(alxhub): clean up once fix for TS transformers lands in upstream
+//
+// Typescript reference issue: https://github.com/Microsoft/TypeScript/issues/22497
 
+// Pattern matching all Render3 property names.
+const R3_DEF_NAME_PATTERN = ['ngInjectableDef'].join('|');
+
+// Pattern matching `Identifier.property` where property is a Render3 property.
+const R3_DEF_ACCESS_PATTERN = `[^\\s\\.()[\\]]+\.(${R3_DEF_NAME_PATTERN})`;
+
+// Pattern matching a source line that contains a Render3 static property assignment.
+// It declares two matching groups - one for the preceding whitespace, the second for the rest
+// of the assignment expression.
+const R3_DEF_LINE_PATTERN = `^(\\s*)(${R3_DEF_ACCESS_PATTERN} = .*)$`;
+
+// Regex compilation of R3_DEF_LINE_PATTERN. Matching group 1 yields the whitespace preceding the
+// assignment, matching group 2 gives the rest of the assignment expressions.
+const R3_MATCH_DEFS = new RegExp(R3_DEF_LINE_PATTERN, 'gmu');
+
+// Replacement string that complements R3_MATCH_DEFS. It inserts `/** @nocollapse */` before the
+// assignment but after any indentation. Note that this will mess up any sourcemaps on this line
+// (though there shouldn't be any, since Render3 properties are synthetic).
+const R3_NOCOLLAPSE_DEFS = '$1\/** @nocollapse *\/ $2';
 
 /**
  * Maximum number of files that are emitable via calling ts.Program.emit
@@ -223,6 +252,10 @@ class AngularCompilerProgram implements Program {
                                              this._emitRender2(parameters);
   }
 
+  private _annotateR3Properties(contents: string): string {
+    return contents.replace(R3_MATCH_DEFS, R3_NOCOLLAPSE_DEFS);
+  }
+
   private _emitRender3(
       {emitFlags = EmitFlags.Default, cancellationToken, customTransformers,
        emitCallback = defaultEmitCallback}: {
@@ -242,6 +275,10 @@ class AngularCompilerProgram implements Program {
         (outFileName, outData, writeByteOrderMark, onError?, sourceFiles?) => {
           const sourceFile = sourceFiles && sourceFiles.length == 1 ? sourceFiles[0] : null;
           let genFile: GeneratedFile|undefined;
+          if (this.options.annotateForClosureCompiler && sourceFile &&
+              TS.test(sourceFile.fileName)) {
+            outData = this._annotateR3Properties(outData);
+          }
           this.writeFile(outFileName, outData, writeByteOrderMark, onError, undefined, sourceFiles);
         };
 
@@ -309,6 +346,9 @@ class AngularCompilerProgram implements Program {
                 emittedSourceFiles.push(originalFile);
               }
             }
+            if (this.options.annotateForClosureCompiler && TS.test(sourceFile.fileName)) {
+              outData = this._annotateR3Properties(outData);
+            }
           }
           this.writeFile(outFileName, outData, writeByteOrderMark, onError, genFile, sourceFiles);
         };
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngc_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngc_spec.ts
index d70889ae94..619dd8615a 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngc_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngc_spec.ts
@@ -2067,6 +2067,27 @@ describe('ngc transformer command-line', () => {
       expect(source).toMatch(/ngInjectableDef.*scope: .+\.Module/);
     });
 
+    it('ngInjectableDef in es5 mode is annotated @nocollapse when closure options are enabled',
+       () => {
+         writeConfig(`{
+        "extends": "./tsconfig-base.json",
+        "angularCompilerOptions": {
+          "annotateForClosureCompiler": true
+        },
+        "files": ["service.ts"]
+      }`);
+         const source = compileService(`
+        import {Injectable} from '@angular/core';
+        import {Module} from './module';
+
+        @Injectable({
+          scope: Module,
+        })
+        export class Service {}
+      `);
+         expect(source).toMatch(/\/\*\* @nocollapse \*\/ Service\.ngInjectableDef =/);
+       });
+
     it('compiles a useValue InjectableDef', () => {
       const source = compileService(`
         import {Injectable} from '@angular/core';