diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/key-manager/list-key-manager.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/key-manager/list-key-manager.ts
index d8a94f91b5f7..2bb9a260698b 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/key-manager/list-key-manager.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/key-manager/list-key-manager.ts
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export class ListKeyManager<T extends ListKeyManagerOption> {
           if (newIndex !== this._activeItemIndex) {
             // Timeout is required to avoid "changed after checked" errors.
             setTimeout(() => {
-              this.updateActiveItem(newIndex > -1 ? newIndex : this._activeItemIndex);
+              this.setActiveItem(newIndex > -1 ? newIndex : this._activeItemIndex);
             }, 0);
           }
         }