diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter.ts
index 98a35134e2..d2b42d5522 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter.ts
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ export class EsmRenderingFormatter implements RenderingFormatter {
     if (!classSymbol) {
       throw new Error(`Compiled class does not have a valid symbol: ${compiledClass.name}`);
     }
-    const insertionPoint = classSymbol.declaration.valueDeclaration.getEnd();
+    const declarationStatement = getDeclarationStatement(classSymbol.declaration.valueDeclaration);
+    const insertionPoint = declarationStatement.getEnd();
     output.appendLeft(insertionPoint, '\n' + definitions);
   }
 
@@ -273,7 +274,18 @@ export class EsmRenderingFormatter implements RenderingFormatter {
   }
 }
 
-function findStatement(node: ts.Node) {
+function getDeclarationStatement(node: ts.Node): ts.Statement {
+  let statement = node;
+  while (statement) {
+    if (ts.isVariableStatement(statement) || ts.isClassDeclaration(statement)) {
+      return statement;
+    }
+    statement = statement.parent;
+  }
+  throw new Error(`Class is not defined in a declaration statement: ${node.getText()}`);
+}
+
+function findStatement(node: ts.Node): ts.Statement|undefined {
   while (node) {
     if (ts.isExpressionStatement(node) || ts.isReturnStatement(node)) {
       return node;
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
index 85d43e230f..275c42e5c7 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
@@ -74,10 +74,12 @@ B.decorators = [
   { type: OtherB },
   { type: Directive, args: [{ selector: '[b]' }] }
 ];
-export class C {}
+var C_1;
+let C = C_1 = class C {};
 C.decorators = [
   { type: Directive, args: [{ selector: '[c]' }] },
 ];
+export C;
 let compileNgModuleFactory = compileNgModuleFactory__PRE_R3__;
 let badlyFormattedVariable = __PRE_R3__badlyFormattedVariable;
 
@@ -222,6 +224,20 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
 A.decorators = [
 `);
       });
+
+      it('should insert the definitions after the variable declaration of class expressions',
+         () => {
+           const {renderer, decorationAnalyses, sourceFile} = setup([PROGRAM]);
+           const output = new MagicString(PROGRAM.contents);
+           const compiledClass =
+               decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
+           renderer.addDefinitions(output, compiledClass, 'SOME DEFINITION TEXT');
+           expect(output.toString()).toContain(`
+let C = C_1 = class C {};
+SOME DEFINITION TEXT
+C.decorators = [
+`);
+         });
     });
 
     describe('addAdjacentStatements', () => {