diff --git a/src/cdk/text-field/autosize.spec.ts b/src/cdk/text-field/autosize.spec.ts
index 66877cf9be9a..eabb88228f97 100644
--- a/src/cdk/text-field/autosize.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/text-field/autosize.spec.ts
@@ -373,6 +373,13 @@ describe('CdkTextareaAutosize', () => {
       .withContext('Expected textarea to have a scrollbar.')
       .toBeLessThan(textarea.scrollHeight);
   }));
+
+  it('should handle an undefined placeholder', () => {
+    fixture.componentInstance.placeholder = undefined!;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+
+    expect(textarea.hasAttribute('placeholder')).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
 
 // Styles to reset padding and border to make measurement comparisons easier.
diff --git a/src/cdk/text-field/autosize.ts b/src/cdk/text-field/autosize.ts
index 3170259f2d64..f07bf93bbddd 100644
--- a/src/cdk/text-field/autosize.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/text-field/autosize.ts
@@ -100,7 +100,13 @@ export class CdkTextareaAutosize implements AfterViewInit, DoCheck, OnDestroy {
   }
   set placeholder(value: string) {
     this._cachedPlaceholderHeight = undefined;
-    this._textareaElement.placeholder = value;
+
+    if (value) {
+      this._textareaElement.setAttribute('placeholder', value);
+    } else {
+      this._textareaElement.removeAttribute('placeholder');
+    }
+
     this._cacheTextareaPlaceholderHeight();
   }