diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
index 668591a0bf23..f3388f5b969b 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export const MAT_AUTOCOMPLETE_VALUE_ACCESSOR: any = {
     // Note: we use `focusin`, as opposed to `focus`, in order to open the panel
     // a little earlier. This avoids issues where IE delays the focusing of the input.
     '(focusin)': '_handleFocus()',
-    '(blur)': '_onTouched()',
+    '(blur)': '_handleBlur()',
     '(input)': '_handleInput($event)',
     '(keydown)': '_handleKeydown($event)',
   },
diff --git a/src/material-experimental/mdc-autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts b/src/material-experimental/mdc-autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
index 51f15af34dcc..90355a82ea7a 100644
--- a/src/material-experimental/mdc-autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material-experimental/mdc-autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -810,9 +810,7 @@ describe('MDC-based MatAutocomplete', () => {
           .toBe(false, `Expected control to stay pristine if value is set programmatically.`);
     });
 
-    it('should mark the autocomplete control as touched on blur', () => {
-      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
-      fixture.detectChanges();
+    it('should mark the autocomplete control as touched on blur while panel is closed', () => {
       expect(fixture.componentInstance.stateCtrl.touched)
           .toBe(false, `Expected control to start out untouched.`);
 
@@ -823,6 +821,28 @@ describe('MDC-based MatAutocomplete', () => {
           .toBe(true, `Expected control to become touched on blur.`);
     });
 
+    it('should defer marking the control as touched if it is blurred while open', () => {
+      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      zone.simulateZoneExit();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.stateCtrl.touched)
+          .toBe(false, 'Expected control to start out untouched.');
+
+      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'blur');
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.stateCtrl.touched)
+          .toBe(false, 'Expected control to stay untouched.');
+
+      // Simulate clicking outside the panel.
+      dispatchFakeEvent(document, 'click');
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.stateCtrl.touched)
+          .toBe(true, 'Expected control to become touched once panel closes.');
+    });
+
     it('should disable the input when used with a value accessor and without `matInput`', () => {
       overlayContainer.ngOnDestroy();
       fixture.destroy();
diff --git a/src/material/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts b/src/material/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
index e29fef802797..28f25bbce102 100644
--- a/src/material/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/material/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
@@ -451,6 +451,16 @@ export abstract class _MatAutocompleteTriggerBase implements ControlValueAccesso
     }
   }
 
+  _handleBlur(): void {
+    // Blur events will fire as soon as the user has their pointer down on an option. We don't
+    // mark the control as touched in this case, because it can cause the validation to be run
+    // before a value has been assigned. Instead, we skip marking it as touched from here
+    // and we do so once the panel has closed.
+    if (!this.panelOpen) {
+      this._onTouched();
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * In "auto" mode, the label will animate down as soon as focus is lost.
    * This causes the value to jump when selecting an option with the mouse.
@@ -564,6 +574,7 @@ export abstract class _MatAutocompleteTriggerBase implements ControlValueAccesso
     }
 
     this.closePanel();
+    this._onTouched();
   }
 
   /**
@@ -781,7 +792,7 @@ export abstract class _MatAutocompleteTriggerBase implements ControlValueAccesso
     // Note: we use `focusin`, as opposed to `focus`, in order to open the panel
     // a little earlier. This avoids issues where IE delays the focusing of the input.
     '(focusin)': '_handleFocus()',
-    '(blur)': '_onTouched()',
+    '(blur)': '_handleBlur()',
     '(input)': '_handleInput($event)',
     '(keydown)': '_handleKeydown($event)',
   },
diff --git a/src/material/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts b/src/material/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
index 76d4791115c1..64426264ee71 100644
--- a/src/material/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -810,9 +810,7 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
           .toBe(false, `Expected control to stay pristine if value is set programmatically.`);
     });
 
-    it('should mark the autocomplete control as touched on blur', () => {
-      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
-      fixture.detectChanges();
+    it('should mark the autocomplete control as touched on blur while panel is closed', () => {
       expect(fixture.componentInstance.stateCtrl.touched)
           .toBe(false, `Expected control to start out untouched.`);
 
@@ -823,6 +821,28 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
           .toBe(true, `Expected control to become touched on blur.`);
     });
 
+    it('should defer marking the control as touched if it is blurred while open', () => {
+      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      zone.simulateZoneExit();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.stateCtrl.touched)
+          .toBe(false, 'Expected control to start out untouched.');
+
+      dispatchFakeEvent(input, 'blur');
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.stateCtrl.touched)
+          .toBe(false, 'Expected control to stay untouched.');
+
+      // Simulate clicking outside the panel.
+      dispatchFakeEvent(document, 'click');
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.stateCtrl.touched)
+          .toBe(true, 'Expected control to become touched once panel closes.');
+    });
+
     it('should disable the input when used with a value accessor and without `matInput`', () => {
       overlayContainer.ngOnDestroy();
       fixture.destroy();
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/autocomplete.d.ts b/tools/public_api_guard/material/autocomplete.d.ts
index aa85d12288fa..1a4053d69656 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/autocomplete.d.ts
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/autocomplete.d.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ export declare abstract class _MatAutocompleteTriggerBase implements ControlValu
     get panelOpen(): boolean;
     position: 'auto' | 'above' | 'below';
     constructor(_element: ElementRef<HTMLInputElement>, _overlay: Overlay, _viewContainerRef: ViewContainerRef, _zone: NgZone, _changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef, scrollStrategy: any, _dir: Directionality, _formField: MatFormField, _document: any, _viewportRuler: ViewportRuler, _defaults?: MatAutocompleteDefaultOptions | undefined);
+    _handleBlur(): void;
     _handleFocus(): void;
     _handleInput(event: KeyboardEvent): void;
     _handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent): void;