diff --git a/src/material/chips/chip-action.ts b/src/material/chips/chip-action.ts
index 75d144693310..c7b98e36b08a 100644
--- a/src/material/chips/chip-action.ts
+++ b/src/material/chips/chip-action.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ export class MatChipAction extends _MatChipActionMixinBase implements HasTabInde
       _handlePrimaryActionInteraction(): void;
       remove(): void;
       disabled: boolean;
+      _isEditing?: boolean;
     },
   ) {
     super();
@@ -110,7 +111,8 @@ export class MatChipAction extends _MatChipActionMixinBase implements HasTabInde
       (event.keyCode === ENTER || event.keyCode === SPACE) &&
       !this.disabled &&
       this.isInteractive &&
-      this._isPrimary
+      this._isPrimary &&
+      !this._parentChip._isEditing
     ) {
       event.preventDefault();
       this._parentChip._handlePrimaryActionInteraction();
diff --git a/src/material/chips/chip-row.spec.ts b/src/material/chips/chip-row.spec.ts
index 1c4e69390fac..7ca159ccc975 100644
--- a/src/material/chips/chip-row.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/chips/chip-row.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import {Directionality} from '@angular/cdk/bidi';
-import {BACKSPACE, DELETE, ENTER} from '@angular/cdk/keycodes';
+import {BACKSPACE, DELETE, ENTER, SPACE} from '@angular/cdk/keycodes';
 import {
   createKeyboardEvent,
   dispatchEvent,
@@ -331,6 +331,14 @@ describe('MDC-based Row Chips', () => {
         flush();
         expect(document.activeElement).not.toBe(primaryAction);
       }));
+
+      it('should not prevent SPACE events when editing', fakeAsync(() => {
+        const event = dispatchKeyboardEvent(getEditInput(), 'keydown', SPACE);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+        flush();
+
+        expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(false);
+      }));
     });
 
     describe('a11y', () => {