diff --git a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.spec.ts b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.spec.ts
index 6421cde3f52c..4ca63913de1d 100644
--- a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.spec.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,30 @@ describe('MdTooltip', () => {
       expect(tooltipDirective._tooltipInstance).toBeNull();
     }));
 
+    it('should not show tooltip if message is not present or empty', fakeAsync(() => {
+      expect(tooltipDirective._tooltipInstance).toBeUndefined();
+
+      tooltipDirective.message = undefined;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      tooltipDirective.show();
+      expect(tooltipDirective._tooltipInstance).toBeUndefined();
+
+      tooltipDirective.message = null;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      tooltipDirective.show();
+      expect(tooltipDirective._tooltipInstance).toBeUndefined();
+
+      tooltipDirective.message = '';
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      tooltipDirective.show();
+      expect(tooltipDirective._tooltipInstance).toBeUndefined();
+
+      tooltipDirective.message = '   ';
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      tooltipDirective.show();
+      expect(tooltipDirective._tooltipInstance).toBeUndefined();
+    }));
+
     it('should not follow through with hide if show is called after', fakeAsync(() => {
       tooltipDirective.show();
       expect(tooltipDirective._isTooltipVisible()).toBe(true);
diff --git a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.ts b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.ts
index cd46c7891f35..96c3d0d66dfd 100644
--- a/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tooltip/tooltip.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ export class MdTooltip {
 
   /** Shows the tooltip */
   show(): void {
+    if (!this._message || !this._message.trim()) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (!this._tooltipInstance) {
       this._createTooltip();
     }