diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/component/src/handler.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/component/src/handler.ts
index b775f1949b3..7f608c592a2 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/component/src/handler.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/component/src/handler.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import {TypeCheckContext} from '../../../typecheck/api';
 import {ExtendedTemplateChecker} from '../../../typecheck/extended/api';
 import {getSourceFile} from '../../../util/src/typescript';
 import {Xi18nContext} from '../../../xi18n';
-import {compileDeclareFactory, compileNgFactoryDefField, compileResults, extractClassMetadata, extractSchemas, findAngularDecorator, getDirectiveDiagnostics, getProviderDiagnostics, isExpressionForwardReference, readBaseClass, resolveEnumValue, resolveImportedFile, resolveLiteral, resolveProvidersRequiringFactory, ResourceLoader, toFactoryMetadata, wrapFunctionExpressionsInParens} from '../../common';
+import {compileDeclareFactory, compileNgFactoryDefField, compileResults, extractClassMetadata, extractSchemas, findAngularDecorator, forwardRefResolver, getDirectiveDiagnostics, getProviderDiagnostics, isExpressionForwardReference, readBaseClass, resolveEnumValue, resolveImportedFile, resolveLiteral, resolveProvidersRequiringFactory, ResourceLoader, toFactoryMetadata, wrapFunctionExpressionsInParens} from '../../common';
 import {extractDirectiveMetadata, parseFieldArrayValue} from '../../directive';
 import {NgModuleSymbol} from '../../ng_module';
 
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ export class ComponentDecoratorHandler implements
       isPoisoned = true;
     } else if (component.has('imports')) {
       const expr = component.get('imports')!;
-      const imported = this.evaluator.evaluate(expr);
+      const imported = this.evaluator.evaluate(expr, forwardRefResolver);
       const {imports: flattened, diagnostics: importDiagnostics} =
           validateAndFlattenComponentImports(imported, expr);
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/GOLDEN_PARTIAL.js b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/GOLDEN_PARTIAL.js
index b6031bf7c86..1d06bb3359c 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/GOLDEN_PARTIAL.js
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/GOLDEN_PARTIAL.js
@@ -341,3 +341,47 @@ export declare class Module {
     static ɵinj: i0.ɵɵInjectorDeclaration<Module>;
 }
 
+/****************************************************************************************************
+ * PARTIAL FILE: forward_ref.js
+ ****************************************************************************************************/
+import { Component, forwardRef } from '@angular/core';
+import * as i0 from "@angular/core";
+export class TestComponent {
+}
+TestComponent.ɵfac = i0.ɵɵngDeclareFactory({ minVersion: "12.0.0", version: "0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER", ngImport: i0, type: TestComponent, deps: [], target: i0.ɵɵFactoryTarget.Component });
+TestComponent.ɵcmp = i0.ɵɵngDeclareComponent({ minVersion: "14.0.0", version: "0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER", type: TestComponent, isStandalone: true, selector: "test", ngImport: i0, template: '<other-standalone></other-standalone>', isInline: true, dependencies: [{ kind: "component", type: i0.forwardRef(function () { return StandaloneComponent; }), selector: "other-standalone" }] });
+i0.ɵɵngDeclareClassMetadata({ minVersion: "12.0.0", version: "0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER", ngImport: i0, type: TestComponent, decorators: [{
+            type: Component,
+            args: [{
+                    selector: 'test',
+                    standalone: true,
+                    imports: [forwardRef(() => StandaloneComponent)],
+                    template: '<other-standalone></other-standalone>',
+                }]
+        }] });
+export class StandaloneComponent {
+}
+StandaloneComponent.ɵfac = i0.ɵɵngDeclareFactory({ minVersion: "12.0.0", version: "0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER", ngImport: i0, type: StandaloneComponent, deps: [], target: i0.ɵɵFactoryTarget.Component });
+StandaloneComponent.ɵcmp = i0.ɵɵngDeclareComponent({ minVersion: "14.0.0", version: "0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER", type: StandaloneComponent, isStandalone: true, selector: "other-standalone", ngImport: i0, template: '', isInline: true });
+i0.ɵɵngDeclareClassMetadata({ minVersion: "12.0.0", version: "0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER", ngImport: i0, type: StandaloneComponent, decorators: [{
+            type: Component,
+            args: [{
+                    selector: 'other-standalone',
+                    standalone: true,
+                    template: '',
+                }]
+        }] });
+
+/****************************************************************************************************
+ * PARTIAL FILE: forward_ref.d.ts
+ ****************************************************************************************************/
+import * as i0 from "@angular/core";
+export declare class TestComponent {
+    static ɵfac: i0.ɵɵFactoryDeclaration<TestComponent, never>;
+    static ɵcmp: i0.ɵɵComponentDeclaration<TestComponent, "test", never, {}, {}, never, never, true>;
+}
+export declare class StandaloneComponent {
+    static ɵfac: i0.ɵɵFactoryDeclaration<StandaloneComponent, never>;
+    static ɵcmp: i0.ɵɵComponentDeclaration<StandaloneComponent, "other-standalone", never, {}, {}, never, never, true>;
+}
+
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/TEST_CASES.json b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/TEST_CASES.json
index d995b6c535d..c7dac587dbb 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/TEST_CASES.json
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/TEST_CASES.json
@@ -84,6 +84,20 @@
           ]
         }
       ]
+    },
+    {
+      "description": "should handle a forwardRef in the imports of a standalone component",
+      "inputFiles": [
+        "forward_ref.ts"
+      ],
+      "expectations": [
+        {
+          "failureMessage": "Invalid component definition",
+          "files": [
+            "forward_ref.js"
+          ]
+        }
+      ]
     }
   ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/forward_ref.js b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/forward_ref.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c9d1decce37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/forward_ref.js
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+TestComponent.ɵcmp = /*@__PURE__*/ i0.ɵɵdefineComponent({
+  type: TestComponent,
+  selectors: [
+    ["test"]
+  ],
+  standalone: true,
+  features: [i0.ɵɵStandaloneFeature],
+  decls: 1,
+  vars: 0,
+  template: function TestComponent_Template(rf, ctx) {
+    if (rf & 1) {
+      i0.ɵɵelement(0, "other-standalone");
+    }
+  },
+  dependencies: function () {
+    return [StandaloneComponent];
+  },
+  encapsulation: 2
+});
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/forward_ref.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/forward_ref.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6df3e64eafd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/compliance/test_cases/r3_compiler_compliance/components_and_directives/standalone/forward_ref.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import {Component, forwardRef} from '@angular/core';
+
+@Component({
+  selector: 'test',
+  standalone: true,
+  imports: [forwardRef(() => StandaloneComponent)],
+  template: '<other-standalone></other-standalone>',
+})
+export class TestComponent {
+}
+
+@Component({
+  selector: 'other-standalone',
+  standalone: true,
+  template: '',
+})
+export class StandaloneComponent {
+}
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/standalone_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/standalone_spec.ts
index 9a50ff8cc83..9c5b743db3c 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/standalone_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/test/ngtsc/standalone_spec.ts
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should compile a basic standalone component', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, Directive} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Directive({
                 selector: '[dir]',
                 standalone: true,
               })
               export class TestDir {}
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 template: '<div dir></div>',
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should compile a recursive standalone component', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, Directive} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 template: '<test-cmp></test-cmp>',
@@ -96,13 +96,13 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should error when a non-standalone component tries to use imports', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, Directive} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Directive({
                 selector: '[dir]',
                 standalone: true,
               })
               export class TestDir {}
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 template: '<div dir></div>',
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should compile a standalone component with schema support', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 standalone: true,
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should error when a non-standalone component tries to use schemas', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 template: '<div></div>',
@@ -166,18 +166,18 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should compile a standalone component that imports an NgModule', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, Directive, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Directive({
                 selector: '[dir]',
               })
               export class TestDir {}
-      
+
               @NgModule({
                 declarations: [TestDir],
                 exports: [TestDir],
               })
               export class TestModule {}
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 template: '<div dir></div>',
@@ -193,15 +193,15 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should allow nested arrays in standalone component imports', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, Directive} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Directive({
                 selector: '[dir]',
                 standalone: true,
               })
               export class TestDir {}
-      
+
               export const DIRECTIVES = [TestDir];
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 template: '<div dir></div>',
@@ -217,15 +217,15 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should deduplicate standalone component imports', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, Directive} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Directive({
                 selector: '[dir]',
                 standalone: true,
               })
               export class TestDir {}
-      
+
               export const DIRECTIVES = [TestDir];
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 template: '<div dir></div>',
@@ -241,18 +241,18 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should error when a standalone component imports a non-standalone entity', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
           import {Component, Directive, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-    
+
           @Directive({
             selector: '[dir]',
           })
           export class TestDir {}
-  
+
           @NgModule({
             declarations: [TestDir],
             exports: [TestDir],
           })
           export class TestModule {}
-    
+
           @Component({
             selector: 'test-cmp',
             template: '<div dir></div>',
@@ -278,17 +278,17 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
          () => {
            env.write('test.ts', `
             import {Component, Directive, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-      
+
             @Directive({
               selector: '[dir]',
             })
             export class TestDir {}
-  
+
             @NgModule({
               declarations: [TestDir],
             })
             export class TestModule {}
-      
+
             @Component({
               selector: 'test-cmp',
               template: '<div dir></div>',
@@ -379,20 +379,45 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
         expect(diags.length).toBe(1);
         expect(diags[0].messageText).toContain('imports');
       });
+
+      it('should handle a forwardRef used inside `imports`', () => {
+        env.write('test.ts', `
+          import {Component, forwardRef} from '@angular/core';
+
+          @Component({
+            selector: 'test',
+            standalone: true,
+            imports: [forwardRef(() => StandaloneComponent)],
+            template: "<other-standalone></other-standalone>"
+          })
+          class TestComponent {
+          }
+
+          @Component({selector: 'other-standalone', standalone: true, template: ""})
+          class StandaloneComponent {
+          }
+        `);
+        const diags = env.driveDiagnostics();
+        const jsCode = env.getContents('test.js');
+
+        expect(diags.length).toBe(0);
+        expect(jsCode).toContain('standalone: true');
+        expect(jsCode).toContain('dependencies: function () { return [StandaloneComponent]; }');
+      });
     });
 
     describe('NgModule-side', () => {
       it('should not allow a standalone component to be declared in an NgModule', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Component, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Component({
                 selector: 'test-cmp',
                 template: 'Test',
                 standalone: true,
               })
               export class TestCmp {}
-      
+
               @NgModule({
                 declarations: [TestCmp],
               })
@@ -408,13 +433,13 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should not allow a standalone pipe to be declared in an NgModule', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
           import {Pipe, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-    
+
           @Pipe({
             name: 'test',
             standalone: true,
           })
           export class TestPipe {}
-  
+
           @NgModule({
             declarations: [TestPipe],
           })
@@ -430,20 +455,20 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should allow a standalone component to be imported by an NgModule', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
           import {Component, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
           @Component({
             selector: 'st-cmp',
             standalone: true,
             template: 'Test',
           })
           export class StandaloneCmp {}
-        
+
           @Component({
             selector: 'test-cmp',
             template: '<st-cmp></st-cmp>',
           })
           export class TestCmp {}
-        
+
           @NgModule({
             declarations: [TestCmp],
             imports: [StandaloneCmp],
@@ -457,19 +482,19 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should allow a standalone directive to be imported by an NgModule', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
           import {Component, Directive, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
           @Directive({
             selector: '[st-dir]',
             standalone: true,
           })
           export class StandaloneDir {}
-        
+
           @Component({
             selector: 'test-cmp',
             template: '<div st-dir></div>',
           })
           export class TestCmp {}
-        
+
           @NgModule({
             declarations: [TestCmp],
             imports: [StandaloneDir],
@@ -483,7 +508,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should allow a standalone pipe to be imported by an NgModule', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
           import {Component, Pipe, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
           @Pipe({
             name: 'stpipe',
             standalone: true,
@@ -493,7 +518,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
               return value;
             }
           }
-        
+
           @Component({
             selector: 'test-cmp',
             template: '{{data | stpipe}}',
@@ -501,7 +526,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
           export class TestCmp {
             data = 'test';
           }
-        
+
           @NgModule({
             declarations: [TestCmp],
             imports: [StandalonePipe],
@@ -539,12 +564,12 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should error when a non-standalone entity is imported into an NgModule', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
           import {Component, Directive, NgModule} from '@angular/core';
-      
+
           @Directive({
             selector: '[dir]',
           })
           export class TestDir {}
-      
+
           @NgModule({
             imports: [TestDir],
           })
@@ -562,7 +587,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should compile a basic standalone directive', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Directive} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Directive({
                 selector: '[dir]',
                 standalone: true,
@@ -576,7 +601,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
       it('should compile a basic standalone pipe', () => {
         env.write('test.ts', `
               import {Pipe} from '@angular/core';
-        
+
               @Pipe({
                 name: 'testpipe',
                 standalone: true,