diff --git a/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.spec.ts b/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.spec.ts
index 44366f6f51c4..e307679eda57 100644
--- a/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.spec.ts
@@ -1030,6 +1030,7 @@ describe('CdkVirtualScrollViewport', () => {
     let fixture: ComponentFixture<VirtualScrollWithAppendOnly>;
     let testComponent: VirtualScrollWithAppendOnly;
     let viewport: CdkVirtualScrollViewport;
+    let contentWrapperEl: HTMLElement;
 
     beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
       TestBed.configureTestingModule({
@@ -1039,6 +1040,9 @@ describe('CdkVirtualScrollViewport', () => {
       fixture = TestBed.createComponent(VirtualScrollWithAppendOnly);
       testComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
       viewport = testComponent.viewport;
+      contentWrapperEl = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector(
+        '.cdk-virtual-scroll-content-wrapper',
+      ) as HTMLElement;
     }));
 
     it('should not remove item that have already been rendered', fakeAsync(() => {
@@ -1085,6 +1089,21 @@ describe('CdkVirtualScrollViewport', () => {
 
       expect(viewport.getOffsetToRenderedContentStart()).toBe(0);
     }));
+
+    it('should not set a transform when scrolling', fakeAsync(() => {
+      finishInit(fixture);
+      triggerScroll(viewport, 0);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      flush();
+
+      expect(contentWrapperEl.style.transform).toBe('translateY(0px)');
+
+      triggerScroll(viewport, testComponent.itemSize * 10);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      flush();
+
+      expect(contentWrapperEl.style.transform).toBe('translateY(0px)');
+    }));
   });
 
   describe('with custom scrolling element', () => {
diff --git a/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts b/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
index 0f5257a25a1e..77253c5db6ce 100644
--- a/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/scrolling/virtual-scroll-viewport.ts
@@ -333,6 +333,9 @@ export class CdkVirtualScrollViewport extends CdkVirtualScrollable implements On
    * (in pixels).
    */
   setRenderedContentOffset(offset: number, to: 'to-start' | 'to-end' = 'to-start') {
+    // In appendOnly, we always start from the top
+    offset = this.appendOnly && to === 'to-start' ? 0 : offset;
+
     // For a horizontal viewport in a right-to-left language we need to translate along the x-axis
     // in the negative direction.
     const isRtl = this.dir && this.dir.value == 'rtl';
@@ -340,8 +343,6 @@ export class CdkVirtualScrollViewport extends CdkVirtualScrollable implements On
     const axis = isHorizontal ? 'X' : 'Y';
     const axisDirection = isHorizontal && isRtl ? -1 : 1;
     let transform = `translate${axis}(${Number(axisDirection * offset)}px)`;
-    // in appendOnly, we always start from the top
-    offset = this.appendOnly && to === 'to-start' ? 0 : offset;
     this._renderedContentOffset = offset;
     if (to === 'to-end') {
       transform += ` translate${axis}(-100%)`;