diff --git a/src/lib/core/a11y/list-key-manager.spec.ts b/src/lib/core/a11y/list-key-manager.spec.ts
index 2f6bd8657f8e..4a64bac10cd1 100644
--- a/src/lib/core/a11y/list-key-manager.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/core/a11y/list-key-manager.spec.ts
@@ -240,6 +240,16 @@ describe('Key managers', () => {
         expect(TAB_EVENT.defaultPrevented).toBe(false);
       });
 
+      it('should activate the first item when pressing down on a clean key manager', () => {
+        keyManager = new ListKeyManager<FakeFocusable>(itemList);
+
+        expect(keyManager.activeItemIndex).toBeNull('Expected active index to default to null.');
+
+        keyManager.onKeydown(DOWN_ARROW_EVENT);
+
+        expect(keyManager.activeItemIndex).toBe(0, 'Expected first item to become active.');
+      });
+
     });
 
     describe('programmatic focus', () => {
diff --git a/src/lib/core/a11y/list-key-manager.ts b/src/lib/core/a11y/list-key-manager.ts
index 308e10a67dca..d54bf1a1521d 100644
--- a/src/lib/core/a11y/list-key-manager.ts
+++ b/src/lib/core/a11y/list-key-manager.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export interface CanDisable {
  * of items, it will set the active item correctly when arrow events occur.
  */
 export class ListKeyManager<T extends CanDisable> {
-  private _activeItemIndex: number;
+  private _activeItemIndex: number = null;
   private _activeItem: T;
   private _tabOut: Subject<any> = new Subject();
   private _wrap: boolean = false;
diff --git a/src/lib/tabs/tab-body.spec.ts b/src/lib/tabs/tab-body.spec.ts
index 4ff41baf642a..4d6840097c4a 100644
--- a/src/lib/tabs/tab-body.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/tabs/tab-body.spec.ts
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ describe('MdTabBody', () => {
     }));
   });
 
-  it('it should toggle the canBeAnimated flag', () => {
+  it('should toggle the canBeAnimated flag', () => {
     let fixture: ComponentFixture<SimpleTabBodyApp>;
     let tabBody: MdTabBody;