diff --git a/src/lib/tabs/tab-group.spec.ts b/src/lib/tabs/tab-group.spec.ts
index 7a46afaf54b..b4c844482a9 100644
--- a/src/lib/tabs/tab-group.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tabs/tab-group.spec.ts
@@ -129,6 +129,15 @@ describe('MdTabGroup', () => {
       fixture.detectChanges();
       expect(component.selectedIndex).toBe(2);
     });
+
+    it('should not crash when setting the selected index to NaN', () => {
+      let component = fixture.debugElement.componentInstance;
+
+      expect(() => {
+        component.selectedIndex = NaN;
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+      }).not.toThrow();
+    });
   });
 
   describe('dynamic binding tabs', () => {
@@ -244,19 +253,19 @@ describe('MdTabGroup', () => {
    * Checks that the `selectedIndex` has been updated; checks that the label and body have their
    * respective `active` classes
    */
-  function checkSelectedIndex(index: number, fixture: ComponentFixture<any>) {
+  function checkSelectedIndex(expectedIndex: number, fixture: ComponentFixture<any>) {
     fixture.detectChanges();
 
     let tabComponent: MdTabGroup = fixture.debugElement
         .query(By.css('md-tab-group')).componentInstance;
-    expect(tabComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(index);
+    expect(tabComponent.selectedIndex).toBe(expectedIndex);
 
     let tabLabelElement = fixture.debugElement
-        .query(By.css(`.md-tab-label:nth-of-type(${index + 1})`)).nativeElement;
+        .query(By.css(`.md-tab-label:nth-of-type(${expectedIndex + 1})`)).nativeElement;
     expect(tabLabelElement.classList.contains('md-tab-label-active')).toBe(true);
 
     let tabContentElement = fixture.debugElement
-        .query(By.css(`md-tab-body:nth-of-type(${index + 1})`)).nativeElement;
+        .query(By.css(`md-tab-body:nth-of-type(${expectedIndex + 1})`)).nativeElement;
     expect(tabContentElement.classList.contains('md-tab-body-active')).toBe(true);
   }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/tabs/tab-group.ts b/src/lib/tabs/tab-group.ts
index 975eb136177..f229aaf5b19 100644
--- a/src/lib/tabs/tab-group.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tabs/tab-group.ts
@@ -116,9 +116,11 @@ export class MdTabGroup {
    * a new selected tab should transition in (from the left or right).
    */
   ngAfterContentChecked(): void {
-    // Clamp the next selected index to the bounds of 0 and the tabs length.
+    // Clamp the next selected index to the bounds of 0 and the tabs length. Note the `|| 0`, which
+    // ensures that values like NaN can't get through and which would otherwise throw the
+    // component into an infinite loop (since Math.max(NaN, 0) === NaN).
     this._indexToSelect =
-        Math.min(this._tabs.length - 1, Math.max(this._indexToSelect, 0));
+        Math.min(this._tabs.length - 1, Math.max(this._indexToSelect || 0, 0));
 
     // If there is a change in selected index, emit a change event. Should not trigger if
     // the selected index has not yet been initialized.