diff --git a/src/lib/menu/menu-trigger.ts b/src/lib/menu/menu-trigger.ts
index a290c0ccc2e..8b85c423764 100644
--- a/src/lib/menu/menu-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/lib/menu/menu-trigger.ts
@@ -214,9 +214,10 @@ export class MdMenuTrigger implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
   /** Closes the menu. */
   closeMenu(): void {
     if (this._overlayRef && this.menuOpen) {
+      this._resetMenu();
       this._overlayRef.detach();
       this._closeSubscription.unsubscribe();
-      this._resetMenu();
+      this.menu.close.emit();
 
       if (this.menu instanceof MdMenu) {
         this.menu._resetAnimation();
diff --git a/src/lib/menu/menu.spec.ts b/src/lib/menu/menu.spec.ts
index f83488fe30f..7f9a1bccfbd 100644
--- a/src/lib/menu/menu.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/menu/menu.spec.ts
@@ -961,6 +961,28 @@ describe('MdMenu', () => {
           .not.toContain('mat-elevation-z3', 'Expected no stacked elevation.');
     });
 
+    it('should close all of the menus when the root is closed programmatically', () => {
+      compileTestComponent();
+      instance.rootTrigger.openMenu();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      instance.levelOneTrigger.openMenu();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      instance.levelTwoTrigger.openMenu();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const menus = overlay.querySelectorAll('.mat-menu-panel');
+
+      expect(menus.length).toBe(3, 'Expected three open menus');
+
+      instance.rootTrigger.closeMenu();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(overlay.querySelectorAll('.mat-menu-panel').length).toBe(0, 'Expected no open menus');
+    });
+
+
   });
 
 });