diff --git a/src/lib/sort/sort-header.scss b/src/lib/sort/sort-header.scss
index 25310804a255..088a5429f68e 100644
--- a/src/lib/sort/sort-header.scss
+++ b/src/lib/sort/sort-header.scss
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ $mat-sort-header-arrow-transition: 225ms cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
 .mat-sort-header-arrow {
   height: $mat-sort-header-arrow-container-size;
   width: $mat-sort-header-arrow-container-size;
+  min-width: $mat-sort-header-arrow-container-size;
   margin: 0 0 0 $mat-sort-header-arrow-margin;
   position: relative;
   display: flex;