diff --git a/src/cdk-experimental/dialog/dialog.ts b/src/cdk-experimental/dialog/dialog.ts
index 3e01749e200a..13657874ceed 100644
--- a/src/cdk-experimental/dialog/dialog.ts
+++ b/src/cdk-experimental/dialog/dialog.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ import {
   ComponentRef,
   OnDestroy,
   Type,
-  StaticProvider
+  StaticProvider,
+  InjectFlags
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {ComponentPortal, TemplatePortal} from '@angular/cdk/portal';
 import {of as observableOf, Observable, Subject, defer} from 'rxjs';
@@ -285,8 +286,8 @@ export class Dialog implements OnDestroy {
       {provide: DIALOG_DATA, useValue: config.data}
     ];
 
-    if (config.direction &&
-        (!userInjector || !userInjector.get<Directionality | null>(Directionality, null))) {
+    if (config.direction && (!userInjector ||
+      !userInjector.get<Directionality | null>(Directionality, null, InjectFlags.Optional))) {
       providers.push({
         provide: Directionality,
         useValue: {value: config.direction, change: observableOf()}
diff --git a/src/material/bottom-sheet/bottom-sheet.ts b/src/material/bottom-sheet/bottom-sheet.ts
index 75501f6f76ef..4278c1f171c3 100644
--- a/src/material/bottom-sheet/bottom-sheet.ts
+++ b/src/material/bottom-sheet/bottom-sheet.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   Inject,
   OnDestroy,
   StaticProvider,
+  InjectFlags,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {of as observableOf} from 'rxjs';
 import {MAT_BOTTOM_SHEET_DATA, MatBottomSheetConfig} from './bottom-sheet-config';
@@ -191,8 +192,8 @@ export class MatBottomSheet implements OnDestroy {
       {provide: MAT_BOTTOM_SHEET_DATA, useValue: config.data}
     ];
 
-    if (config.direction &&
-        (!userInjector || !userInjector.get<Directionality | null>(Directionality, null))) {
+    if (config.direction && (!userInjector ||
+      !userInjector.get<Directionality | null>(Directionality, null, InjectFlags.Optional))) {
       providers.push({
         provide: Directionality,
         useValue: {value: config.direction, change: observableOf()}
diff --git a/src/material/dialog/dialog.ts b/src/material/dialog/dialog.ts
index 87f3e1bf9444..a9e4d75ad845 100644
--- a/src/material/dialog/dialog.ts
+++ b/src/material/dialog/dialog.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   Directive,
   Inject,
   Injectable,
+  InjectFlags,
   InjectionToken,
   Injector,
   OnDestroy,
@@ -307,8 +308,8 @@ export abstract class _MatDialogBase<C extends _MatDialogContainerBase> implemen
       {provide: this._dialogRefConstructor, useValue: dialogRef}
     ];
 
-    if (config.direction &&
-        (!userInjector || !userInjector.get<Directionality | null>(Directionality, null))) {
+    if (config.direction && (!userInjector ||
+        !userInjector.get<Directionality | null>(Directionality, null, InjectFlags.Optional))) {
       providers.push({
         provide: Directionality,
         useValue: {value: config.direction, change: observableOf()}