diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.spec.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.spec.ts
index e20ad712d793..e42ad447f117 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.spec.ts
@@ -3927,6 +3927,50 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
       expect(itemEnterEvent).toEqual(expectedEvent);
     }));
 
+    it('should be able to drop into a new container after scrolling into view', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(ConnectedDropZones);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      // Make the page scrollable and scroll the items out of view.
+      const cleanup = makePageScrollable();
+      scrollTo(0, 4000);
+      dispatchFakeEvent(document, 'scroll');
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      flush();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const groups = fixture.componentInstance.groupedDragItems;
+      const item = groups[0][1];
+
+      // Start dragging and then scroll the elements back into view.
+      startDraggingViaMouse(fixture, item.element.nativeElement);
+      scrollTo(0, 0);
+      dispatchFakeEvent(document, 'scroll');
+
+      const targetRect = groups[1][2].element.nativeElement.getBoundingClientRect();
+      dispatchMouseEvent(document, 'mousemove', targetRect.left + 1, targetRect.top + 1);
+      dispatchMouseEvent(document, 'mouseup', targetRect.left + 1, targetRect.top + 1);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      flush();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.droppedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+      const event = fixture.componentInstance.droppedSpy.calls.mostRecent().args[0];
+
+      expect(event).toEqual({
+        previousIndex: 1,
+        currentIndex: 3,
+        item,
+        container: fixture.componentInstance.dropInstances.toArray()[1],
+        previousContainer: fixture.componentInstance.dropInstances.first,
+        isPointerOverContainer: true,
+        distance: {x: jasmine.any(Number), y: jasmine.any(Number)}
+      });
+
+      cleanup();
+    }));
+
   });
 
   describe('with nested drags', () => {
diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/drop-list-ref.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/drop-list-ref.ts
index 21b9cf2760ff..b5b5d49f72a5 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/drop-list-ref.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/drop-list-ref.ts
@@ -254,14 +254,7 @@ export class DropListRef<T = any> {
 
     // @breaking-change 9.0.0 Remove check for _viewportRuler once it's marked as a required param.
     if (this._viewportRuler) {
-      this._viewportScrollPosition = this._viewportRuler.getViewportScrollPosition();
-      this._viewportScrollSubscription = this._dragDropRegistry.scroll.subscribe(() => {
-        if (this.isDragging()) {
-          const newPosition = this._viewportRuler!.getViewportScrollPosition();
-          this._updateAfterScroll(this._viewportScrollPosition, newPosition.top, newPosition.left,
-                                  this._clientRect);
-        }
-      });
+      this._listenToScrollEvents();
     }
   }
 
@@ -854,6 +847,7 @@ export class DropListRef<T = any> {
     if (!activeSiblings.has(sibling)) {
       activeSiblings.add(sibling);
       this._cacheOwnPosition();
+      this._listenToScrollEvents();
     }
   }
 
@@ -863,6 +857,24 @@ export class DropListRef<T = any> {
    */
   _stopReceiving(sibling: DropListRef) {
     this._activeSiblings.delete(sibling);
+    this._viewportScrollSubscription.unsubscribe();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Starts listening to scroll events on the viewport.
+   * Used for updating the internal state of the list.
+   */
+  private _listenToScrollEvents() {
+    this._viewportScrollPosition = this._viewportRuler!.getViewportScrollPosition();
+    this._viewportScrollSubscription = this._dragDropRegistry.scroll.subscribe(() => {
+      if (this.isDragging()) {
+        const newPosition = this._viewportRuler!.getViewportScrollPosition();
+        this._updateAfterScroll(this._viewportScrollPosition, newPosition.top, newPosition.left,
+                                this._clientRect);
+      } else if (this.isReceiving()) {
+        this._cacheOwnPosition();
+      }
+    });
   }
 }