diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
index 767ec9aaec20..4db36d7184fa 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
@@ -364,8 +364,10 @@ export class DragRef<T = any> {
         this._removeRootElementListeners(this._rootElement);
       }
 
-      element.addEventListener('mousedown', this._pointerDown, activeEventListenerOptions);
-      element.addEventListener('touchstart', this._pointerDown, passiveEventListenerOptions);
+      this._ngZone.runOutsideAngular(() => {
+        element.addEventListener('mousedown', this._pointerDown, activeEventListenerOptions);
+        element.addEventListener('touchstart', this._pointerDown, passiveEventListenerOptions);
+      });
       this._initialTransform = undefined;
       this._rootElement = element;
     }