diff --git a/src/components/tabs/js/tabDirective.js b/src/components/tabs/js/tabDirective.js
index 4dd7d40e5fb..79869f90502 100644
--- a/src/components/tabs/js/tabDirective.js
+++ b/src/components/tabs/js/tabDirective.js
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ function MdTab () {
     scope.select   = scope.select || angular.noop;
     scope.deselect = scope.deselect || angular.noop;
 
-    scope.$watch('active', function (active) { if (active) ctrl.select(data.getIndex()); });
+    scope.$watch('active', function (active) { if (active) ctrl.select(data.getIndex(), true); });
     scope.$watch('disabled', function () { ctrl.refreshIndex(); });
     scope.$watch(
         function () {
diff --git a/src/components/tabs/js/tabsController.js b/src/components/tabs/js/tabsController.js
index 525025cfd74..a7e82acd687 100644
--- a/src/components/tabs/js/tabsController.js
+++ b/src/components/tabs/js/tabsController.js
@@ -285,15 +285,16 @@ function MdTabsController ($scope, $element, $window, $mdConstant, $mdTabInkRipp
   }
 
   /**
-   * Update the selected index and trigger a click event on the original `md-tab` element in order
-   * to fire user-added click events.
+   * Update the selected index. Triggers a click event on the original `md-tab` element in order
+   * to fire user-added click events if canSkipClick or `md-no-select-click` are false.
    * @param index
+   * @param canSkipClick Optionally allow not firing the click event if `md-no-select-click` is also true.
    */
-  function select (index) {
+  function select (index, canSkipClick) {
     if (!locked) ctrl.focusIndex = ctrl.selectedIndex = index;
     ctrl.lastClick = true;
     // skip the click event if noSelectClick is enabled
-    if (ctrl.noSelectClick) return;
+    if (canSkipClick && ctrl.noSelectClick) return;
     // nextTick is required to prevent errors in user-defined click events
     $mdUtil.nextTick(function () {
       ctrl.tabs[ index ].element.triggerHandler('click');