diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-select/select.spec.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-select/select.spec.ts
index 01a7c7020d39..748f9161e32b 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-select/select.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-select/select.spec.ts
@@ -2134,6 +2134,30 @@ describe('MDC-based MatSelect', () => {
         expect(panel.scrollTop).toBe(520, 'Expected scroll to be at the 16th option.');
       }));
 
+      it('should scroll to top when going to first option in top group', fakeAsync(() => {
+        fixture.destroy();
+        const groupFixture = TestBed.createComponent(SelectWithGroups);
+        groupFixture.detectChanges();
+        groupFixture.componentInstance.select.open();
+        groupFixture.detectChanges();
+        flush();
+
+        host = groupFixture.debugElement.query(By.css('mat-select'))!.nativeElement;
+        panel = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('.mat-mdc-select-panel')! as HTMLElement;
+
+        for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+          dispatchKeyboardEvent(host, 'keydown', DOWN_ARROW);
+        }
+
+        expect(panel.scrollTop).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+        for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+          dispatchKeyboardEvent(host, 'keydown', UP_ARROW);
+        }
+
+        expect(panel.scrollTop).toBe(0);
+      }));
+
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-select/select.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-select/select.ts
index b6ee8237749b..a7dcbd654b68 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-select/select.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-select/select.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import {
   MatOption,
   MAT_OPTGROUP,
   MAT_OPTION_PARENT_COMPONENT,
+  _countGroupLabelsBeforeOption,
   _getOptionScrollPosition,
 } from '@angular/material-experimental/mdc-core';
 import {CdkOverlayOrigin, ConnectedPosition} from '@angular/cdk/overlay';
@@ -163,14 +164,22 @@ export class MatSelect extends _MatSelectBase<MatSelectChange> implements OnInit
 
     if (option) {
       const panel: HTMLElement = this.panel.nativeElement;
+      const labelCount = _countGroupLabelsBeforeOption(index, this.options, this.optionGroups);
       const element = option._getHostElement();
 
-      panel.scrollTop = _getOptionScrollPosition(
-        element.offsetTop,
-        element.offsetHeight,
-        panel.scrollTop,
-        panel.offsetHeight
-      );
+      if (index === 0 && labelCount === 1) {
+        // If we've got one group label before the option and we're at the top option,
+        // scroll the list to the top. This is better UX than scrolling the list to the
+        // top of the option, because it allows the user to read the top group's label.
+        panel.scrollTop = 0;
+      } else {
+        panel.scrollTop = _getOptionScrollPosition(
+          element.offsetTop,
+          element.offsetHeight,
+          panel.scrollTop,
+          panel.offsetHeight
+        );
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/material/select/select.spec.ts b/src/material/select/select.spec.ts
index c90b31dbdb8d..40de1a61fe95 100644
--- a/src/material/select/select.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/select/select.spec.ts
@@ -2177,6 +2177,30 @@ describe('MatSelect', () => {
         expect(panel.scrollTop).toBe(512, 'Expected scroll to be at the 16th option.');
       }));
 
+      it('should scroll to top when going to first option in top group', fakeAsync(() => {
+        fixture.destroy();
+        const groupFixture = TestBed.createComponent(SelectWithGroups);
+        groupFixture.detectChanges();
+        groupFixture.componentInstance.select.open();
+        groupFixture.detectChanges();
+        flush();
+
+        host = groupFixture.debugElement.query(By.css('mat-select'))!.nativeElement;
+        panel = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('.mat-select-panel')! as HTMLElement;
+
+        for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+          dispatchKeyboardEvent(host, 'keydown', DOWN_ARROW);
+        }
+
+        expect(panel.scrollTop).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+        for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
+          dispatchKeyboardEvent(host, 'keydown', UP_ARROW);
+        }
+
+        expect(panel.scrollTop).toBe(0);
+      }));
+
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/src/material/select/select.ts b/src/material/select/select.ts
index 838ade767bcd..ecd4a4db7916 100644
--- a/src/material/select/select.ts
+++ b/src/material/select/select.ts
@@ -1204,12 +1204,19 @@ export class MatSelect extends _MatSelectBase<MatSelectChange> implements OnInit
     const labelCount = _countGroupLabelsBeforeOption(index, this.options, this.optionGroups);
     const itemHeight = this._getItemHeight();
 
-    this.panel.nativeElement.scrollTop = _getOptionScrollPosition(
-      (index + labelCount) * itemHeight,
-      itemHeight,
-      this.panel.nativeElement.scrollTop,
-      SELECT_PANEL_MAX_HEIGHT
-    );
+    if (index === 0 && labelCount === 1) {
+      // If we've got one group label before the option and we're at the top option,
+      // scroll the list to the top. This is better UX than scrolling the list to the
+      // top of the option, because it allows the user to read the top group's label.
+      this.panel.nativeElement.scrollTop = 0;
+    } else {
+      this.panel.nativeElement.scrollTop = _getOptionScrollPosition(
+        (index + labelCount) * itemHeight,
+        itemHeight,
+        this.panel.nativeElement.scrollTop,
+        SELECT_PANEL_MAX_HEIGHT
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   protected _positioningSettled() {