diff --git a/src/material/sort/sort-header.ts b/src/material/sort/sort-header.ts
index 8b2ab1ded297..8fb709f8568a 100644
--- a/src/material/sort/sort-header.ts
+++ b/src/material/sort/sort-header.ts
@@ -163,6 +163,13 @@ export class MatSortHeader extends _MatSortHeaderMixinBase
         .subscribe(() => {
           if (this._isSorted()) {
             this._updateArrowDirection();
+            // If this header wasn't recently active and now becomes sorted, animate the arrow in.
+            if (this._viewState && this._viewState.fromState !== 'active' 
+                && this._viewState.toState !== 'active') {
+              this._disableViewStateAnimation = false;
+              this._setAnimationTransitionState(
+                  {fromState: this._arrowDirection, toState: 'active'});
+            }
           }
 
           // If this header was recently active and now no longer sorted, animate away the arrow.