diff --git a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/VirtualizedList.js b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
index de44f303b07ce9..2aca79a2ea2503 100644
--- a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
+++ b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/VirtualizedList.js
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ class VirtualizedList extends StateSafePureComponent<Props, State> {
         ),
       };
     } else {
-      // If we have a non-zero initialScrollIndex and run this before we've scrolled,
+      // If we have a positive non-zero initialScrollIndex and run this before we've scrolled,
       // we'll wipe out the initialNumToRender rendered elements starting at initialScrollIndex.
       // So let's wait until we've scrolled the view to the right place. And until then,
       // we will trust the initialScrollIndex suggestion.
@@ -627,7 +627,8 @@ class VirtualizedList extends StateSafePureComponent<Props, State> {
       // - initialScrollIndex > 0 AND the end of the list is visible (this handles the case
       //   where the list is shorter than the visible area)
       if (
-        props.initialScrollIndex &&
+        props.initialScrollIndex != null &&
+        props.initialScrollIndex > 0 &&
         !this._scrollMetrics.offset &&
         Math.abs(distanceFromEnd) >= Number.EPSILON
       ) {
diff --git a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedList-test.js.snap b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedList-test.js.snap
index b59f291eb6dbbe..cd174da04cca2c 100644
--- a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedList-test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/__snapshots__/VirtualizedList-test.js.snap
@@ -3122,12 +3122,53 @@ exports[`gracefully handles negative initialScrollIndex 1`] = `
       />
     </View>
     <View
-      style={
-        Object {
-          "height": 60,
-        }
-      }
-    />
+      onFocusCapture={[Function]}
+      style={null}
+    >
+      <MockCellItem
+        value={4}
+      />
+    </View>
+    <View
+      onFocusCapture={[Function]}
+      style={null}
+    >
+      <MockCellItem
+        value={5}
+      />
+    </View>
+    <View
+      onFocusCapture={[Function]}
+      style={null}
+    >
+      <MockCellItem
+        value={6}
+      />
+    </View>
+    <View
+      onFocusCapture={[Function]}
+      style={null}
+    >
+      <MockCellItem
+        value={7}
+      />
+    </View>
+    <View
+      onFocusCapture={[Function]}
+      style={null}
+    >
+      <MockCellItem
+        value={8}
+      />
+    </View>
+    <View
+      onFocusCapture={[Function]}
+      style={null}
+    >
+      <MockCellItem
+        value={9}
+      />
+    </View>
   </View>
 </RCTScrollView>
 `;