diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-set.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-set.ts
index c25152c27d9d..c78f40aa1e13 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-set.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip-set.ts
@@ -294,7 +294,8 @@ export class MatChipSet extends _MatChipSetMixinBase implements AfterContentInit
     let currentElement = event.target as HTMLElement | null;
 
     while (currentElement && currentElement !== this._elementRef.nativeElement) {
-      if (currentElement.classList.contains('mdc-chip')) {
+      // Null check the classList, because IE and Edge don't support it on all elements.
+      if (currentElement.classList && currentElement.classList.contains('mdc-chip')) {
         return true;
       }
 
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip.ts
index 2866120ad652..ac77287fa0d9 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-chips/chip.ts
@@ -250,7 +250,10 @@ export class MatChip extends _MatChipMixinBase implements AfterContentInit, Afte
     addClassToLeadingIcon: (className) => this.leadingIcon.setClass(className, true),
     removeClassFromLeadingIcon: (className) => this.leadingIcon.setClass(className, false),
     eventTargetHasClass: (target: EventTarget | null, className: string) => {
-      return target ? (target as Element).classList.contains(className) : false;
+      // We need to null check the `classList`, because IE and Edge don't support it on SVG elements
+      // and Edge seems to throw for ripple elements, because they're outside the DOM.
+      return (target && (target as Element).classList) ?
+          (target as Element).classList.contains(className) : false;
     },
     notifyInteraction: () => this.interaction.emit(this.id),
     notifySelection: () => {