diff --git a/src/material/list/list.ts b/src/material/list/list.ts
index fd6662d4a468..196c4c460752 100644
--- a/src/material/list/list.ts
+++ b/src/material/list/list.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export class MatListItem extends MatListItemBase {
 
   /** Indicates whether an item in a `<mat-nav-list>` is the currently active page. */
   @Input()
-  get activated() {
+  get activated(): boolean {
     return this._activated;
   }
   set activated(activated) {