diff --git a/libs/ng-mocks/src/lib/mock-component/render/generate-template.ts b/libs/ng-mocks/src/lib/mock-component/render/generate-template.ts
index da227d836e..5ae5e13630 100644
--- a/libs/ng-mocks/src/lib/mock-component/render/generate-template.ts
+++ b/libs/ng-mocks/src/lib/mock-component/render/generate-template.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
-import { Query, TemplateRef, ViewChild, ViewContainerRef } from '@angular/core';
+import { Query, TemplateRef, ViewChild, ViewContainerRef, VERSION } from '@angular/core';
 
+const hasControlFlow = Number.parseInt(VERSION.major, 10) >= 17;
 const viewChildArgs: any = { read: ViewContainerRef, static: false };
 
-const viewChildTemplate = (selector: string, key: string): string =>
-  `<div *ngIf="ngMocksRender_${key}_${selector}" data-${key}="${selector}"><ng-template #${key}_${selector}></ng-template></div>`;
+const viewChildTemplate = (selector: string, key: string): string => {
+  const content = `<div data-${key}="${selector}"><ng-template #${key}_${selector}></ng-template></div>`;
+  const condition = `ngMocksRender_${key}_${selector}`;
+  return hasControlFlow
+    ? `@if (${condition}) { ${content} }`
+    : `<ng-template [ngIf]="${condition}">${content}</ng-template>`;
+};
 
 const isTemplateRefQuery = (query: Query): boolean => {
   if (query.isViewQuery) {
diff --git a/tests/issue-8884/test.spec.ts b/tests/issue-8884/test.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..12d2171461
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/issue-8884/test.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import {
+  Component,
+  ContentChild,
+  NgModule,
+  TemplateRef,
+  VERSION,
+} from '@angular/core';
+
+import { MockBuilder, MockRender, ngMocks } from 'ng-mocks';
+
+// @see https://github.com/help-me-mom/ng-mocks/issues/8884
+describe('issue-8884', () => {
+  ngMocks.throwOnConsole();
+
+  if (Number.parseInt(VERSION.major, 10) < 17) {
+    it('needs a17+', () => {
+      expect(true).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+
+    return;
+  }
+
+  describe('when standalone component does not import NgIf', () => {
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'app-standalone',
+      standalone: true,
+      template: `<ng-template [ngTemplateOutlet]="content" />`,
+    })
+    class StandaloneComponent {
+      @ContentChild('content')
+      content?: TemplateRef<any>;
+    }
+
+    beforeEach(() => MockBuilder(null, StandaloneComponent));
+
+    it('should create', () => {
+      MockRender(`<app-standalone>Test content</app-standalone>`);
+
+      expect(ngMocks.findInstance(StandaloneComponent)).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when NgIf is not avaiable to a component in a module', () => {
+    @Component({
+      selector: 'app-target',
+      template: `<ng-template [ngTemplateOutlet]="content" />`,
+    })
+    class TargetComponent {
+      @ContentChild('content')
+      content?: TemplateRef<any>;
+    }
+
+    @NgModule({
+      declarations: [TargetComponent],
+    })
+    class TargetModule {}
+
+    beforeEach(() => MockBuilder(null, TargetModule));
+
+    it('should create', () => {
+      MockRender(`<app-target>Test content</app-target>`);
+
+      expect(ngMocks.findInstance(TargetComponent)).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+  });
+});