diff --git a/packages/react-navigation/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/react-navigation/CHANGELOG.md
index 00736946..4f7f13ba 100644
--- a/packages/react-navigation/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/react-navigation/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.
 ### Changed
 - StackNavigator.replace method no longer requires a key param. If the key is left undefined, the last screen in the stack will be replaced.
 
+### Fixed
+- Support headerLeft component for the first screen in a stack (#4608).
+
 ## [2.6.2] - [2018-07-06](https://github.com/react-navigation/react-navigation/releases/tag/2.6.2)
 ### Changed
 - Relax vertical padding warnings on header.
diff --git a/packages/react-navigation/src/views/Header/Header.js b/packages/react-navigation/src/views/Header/Header.js
index 5749c97d..182fc525 100644
--- a/packages/react-navigation/src/views/Header/Header.js
+++ b/packages/react-navigation/src/views/Header/Header.js
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ class Header extends React.PureComponent {
       return options.headerLeft;
     }
 
-    if (props.scene.index === 0) {
+    if (!options.headerLeft && props.scene.index === 0) {
       return;
     }