diff --git a/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts b/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
index 28fab28722a..f311b76aa9c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/di/r3_injector.ts
@@ -681,7 +681,8 @@ function hasOnDestroy(value: any): value is OnDestroy {
 
 function couldBeInjectableType(value: any): value is ProviderToken<any> {
   return (
-    typeof value === 'function' || (typeof value === 'object' && value instanceof InjectionToken)
+    typeof value === 'function' ||
+    (typeof value === 'object' && value.ngMetadataName === 'InjectionToken')
   );
 }