diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.spec.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.spec.ts
index 9a085349d50..64db4880263 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.spec.ts
@@ -522,6 +522,20 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
       expect(dragElement.style.transform).toBeFalsy();
     }));
 
+    it('should enable native drag interactions if dragging is disabled', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const fixture = createComponent(StandaloneDraggable);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      const dragElement = fixture.componentInstance.dragElement.nativeElement;
+      const styles = dragElement.style;
+
+      expect(styles.touchAction || (styles as any).webkitUserDrag).toBe('none');
+
+      fixture.componentInstance.dragInstance.disabled = true;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(styles.touchAction || (styles as any).webkitUserDrag).toBeFalsy();
+    }));
+
     it('should stop propagation for the drag sequence start event', fakeAsync(() => {
       const fixture = createComponent(StandaloneDraggable);
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -544,12 +558,11 @@ describe('CdkDrag', () => {
       }).not.toThrow();
     }));
 
-    it('should not disable native drag interactions when there is a drag handle', () => {
+    it('should enable native drag interactions when there is a drag handle', () => {
       const fixture = createComponent(StandaloneDraggableWithHandle);
       fixture.detectChanges();
       const dragElement = fixture.componentInstance.dragElement.nativeElement;
-      expect(dragElement.style.touchAction)
-        .not.toEqual('none', 'should not disable touchAction on when there is a drag handle');
+      expect(dragElement.style.touchAction).not.toBe('none');
     });
 
     it('should be able to reset a freely-dragged item to its initial position', fakeAsync(() => {
diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.ts
index bfbaf292e06..d0f23bc31e8 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/directives/drag.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ export class CdkDrag<T = any> implements AfterViewInit, OnChanges, OnDestroy {
   }
   set disabled(value: boolean) {
     this._disabled = coerceBooleanProperty(value);
+    this._dragRef.disabled = this._disabled;
   }
   private _disabled = false;
 
diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
index b42119a4edf..dcf01427467 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
@@ -177,6 +177,9 @@ export class DragRef<T = any> {
   /** Cached reference to the boundary element. */
   private _boundaryElement: HTMLElement | null = null;
 
+  /** Whether the native dragging interactions have been enabled on the root element. */
+  private _nativeInteractionsEnabled = true;
+
   /** Cached dimensions of the preview element. */
   private _previewRect?: ClientRect;
 
@@ -192,9 +195,6 @@ export class DragRef<T = any> {
   /** Elements that can be used to drag the draggable item. */
   private _handles: DragHandle[] = [];
 
-  /** Whether the native interactions on the element are enabled. */
-  private _nativeInteractionsEnabled = true;
-
   /** Axis along which dragging is locked. */
   lockAxis: 'x' | 'y';
 
@@ -203,7 +203,12 @@ export class DragRef<T = any> {
     return this._disabled || !!(this.dropContainer && this.dropContainer.disabled);
   }
   set disabled(value: boolean) {
-    this._disabled = coerceBooleanProperty(value);
+    const newValue = coerceBooleanProperty(value);
+
+    if (newValue !== this._disabled) {
+      this._disabled = newValue;
+      this._toggleNativeDragInteractions();
+    }
   }
   private _disabled = false;
 
@@ -911,10 +916,12 @@ export class DragRef<T = any> {
 
   /** Toggles the native drag interactions, based on how many handles are registered. */
   private _toggleNativeDragInteractions() {
-    const shouldEnable = this._handles.length > 0;
+    if (!this._rootElement || !this._handles) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const shouldEnable = this.disabled || this._handles.length > 0;
 
-    // We go through the trouble of keeping track of whether the interactions are enabled,
-    // because we want to avoid triggering style recalculations unless we really have to.
     if (shouldEnable !== this._nativeInteractionsEnabled) {
       this._nativeInteractionsEnabled = shouldEnable;
       toggleNativeDragInteractions(this._rootElement, shouldEnable);