diff --git a/src/material/core/style/_private.scss b/src/material/core/style/_private.scss
index 2eecc6c575a3..dde4c62d9c1f 100644
--- a/src/material/core/style/_private.scss
+++ b/src/material/core/style/_private.scss
@@ -22,20 +22,11 @@
 // NOTE: Currently this mixin should only be used with components that do not
 // have any projected content.
 @mixin private-animation-noop() {
-  // @at-root is used to steps outside of the hierarchy of the scss rules. This is
-  // done to allow a class to be added to be added to base of the scss nesting
-  // context.
-  // For example:
-  // .my-root {
-  //   .my-subclass {
-  //      @include mat-private-animation-noop();
-  //    }
-  // }
-  // results in:
-  // ._mat-animation-noopable.my-root .my-subclass { ... }
-  @at-root ._mat-animation-noopable#{&} {
-    transition: none;
-    animation: none;
+  &._mat-animation-noopable {
+    // Use !important here since we don't know what context this mixin will
+    // be included in and MDC can have some really specific selectors.
+    transition: none !important;
+    animation: none !important;
     @content;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/material/progress-spinner/progress-spinner.scss b/src/material/progress-spinner/progress-spinner.scss
index b856d51c513b..2db723c01002 100644
--- a/src/material/progress-spinner/progress-spinner.scss
+++ b/src/material/progress-spinner/progress-spinner.scss
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 @use '@angular/cdk';
 
 @use '../core/style/variables';
-@use '../core/style/private';
 
 $_default-radius: 45px;
 $_default-circumference: variables.$pi * $_default-radius * 2;
@@ -24,7 +23,6 @@ $_default-circumference: variables.$pi * $_default-radius * 2;
   }
 
   circle {
-    @include private.private-animation-noop();
     fill: transparent;
     transition: stroke-dashoffset 225ms linear;
 
@@ -37,15 +35,13 @@ $_default-circumference: variables.$pi * $_default-radius * 2;
     }
   }
 
-  &.mat-progress-spinner-indeterminate-animation[mode='indeterminate'] {
+  &[mode='indeterminate'] {
     svg {
-      @include private.private-animation-noop();
       animation: mat-progress-spinner-linear-rotate variables.$swift-ease-in-out-duration * 4
           linear infinite;
     }
 
     circle {
-      @include private.private-animation-noop();
       transition-property: stroke;
       // Note: we multiply the duration by 8, because the animation is spread out in 8 stages.
       animation-duration: variables.$swift-ease-in-out-duration * 8;
@@ -53,6 +49,13 @@ $_default-circumference: variables.$pi * $_default-radius * 2;
       animation-iteration-count: infinite;
     }
   }
+
+  &._mat-animation-noopable {
+    svg, circle {
+      animation: none;
+      transition: none;
+    }
+  }
 }