diff --git a/src/components/tabs/js/tabsController.js b/src/components/tabs/js/tabsController.js
index 1687038b3d3..8720e60aa03 100644
--- a/src/components/tabs/js/tabsController.js
+++ b/src/components/tabs/js/tabsController.js
@@ -534,9 +534,17 @@ function MdTabsController ($scope, $element, $window, $mdConstant, $mdTabInkRipp
    * Updates whether or not pagination should be displayed.
    */
   function updatePagination () {
+    updatePagingWidth();
+    ctrl.maxTabWidth = getMaxTabWidth();
     ctrl.shouldPaginate = shouldPaginate();
   }
 
+  function updatePagingWidth() {
+    var width = 1;
+    angular.forEach(elements.dummies, function (element) { width += element.offsetWidth; });
+    angular.element(elements.paging).css('width', width + 'px');
+  }
+
   function getMaxTabWidth () {
     return $element.prop('clientWidth');
   }