diff --git a/src/cdk/testing/event-objects.ts b/src/cdk/testing/event-objects.ts
index 44d2038b451a..ade3f3cc4f93 100644
--- a/src/cdk/testing/event-objects.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/testing/event-objects.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ export function createTouchEvent(type: string, pageX = 0, pageY = 0) {
   const event = document.createEvent('UIEvent');
   const touchDetails = {pageX, pageY};
 
-  event.initUIEvent(type, true, true, window, 0);
+  // TS3.6 removes the initUIEvent method and suggests porting to "new UIEvent()".
+  (event as any).initUIEvent(type, true, true, window, 0);
 
   // Most of the browsers don't have a "initTouchEvent" method that can be used to define
   // the touch details.