diff --git a/packages/core/src/animation/longest_animation.ts b/packages/core/src/animation/longest_animation.ts
index f86aa06ff82..46ced7b4f38 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/animation/longest_animation.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/animation/longest_animation.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ import {LView} from '../render3/interfaces/view';
 import {LongestAnimation} from './interfaces';
 
 /** Parses a CSS time value to milliseconds. */
-function parseCssTimeUnitsToMs(value: string): number {
+function parseCssTimeUnitsToMs(value: string | undefined): number {
+  if (!value) return 0;
   // Some browsers will return it in seconds, whereas others will return milliseconds.
   const multiplier = value.toLowerCase().indexOf('ms') > -1 ? 1 : 1000;
   return parseFloat(value) * multiplier;