diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
index 2b751e373171..77a8ea66a058 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/drag-ref.ts
@@ -1100,7 +1100,9 @@ export class DragRef<T = any> {
         const handler = ((event: TransitionEvent) => {
           if (
             !event ||
-            (_getEventTarget(event) === this._preview && event.propertyName === 'transform')
+            (this._preview &&
+              _getEventTarget(event) === this._preview.element &&
+              event.propertyName === 'transform')
           ) {
             this._preview?.removeEventListener('transitionend', handler);
             resolve();
diff --git a/src/cdk/drag-drop/preview-ref.ts b/src/cdk/drag-drop/preview-ref.ts
index 3e302f8adc2e..4bced1b40bbc 100644
--- a/src/cdk/drag-drop/preview-ref.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/drag-drop/preview-ref.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ export class PreviewRef {
   /** Reference to the preview element. */
   private _preview: HTMLElement;
 
+  get element(): HTMLElement {
+    return this._preview;
+  }
+
   constructor(
     private _document: Document,
     private _rootElement: HTMLElement,