diff --git a/src/material/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.ts b/src/material/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.ts
index 6ec9ca681b1e..ba64e94cc3f6 100644
--- a/src/material/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.ts
+++ b/src/material/tabs/tab-nav-bar/tab-nav-bar.ts
@@ -385,6 +385,8 @@ export class MatTabNav extends _MatTabNavBase implements AfterContentInit, After
       defaultConfig && defaultConfig.fitInkBarToContent != null
         ? defaultConfig.fitInkBarToContent
         : false;
+    this.stretchTabs =
+      defaultConfig && defaultConfig.stretchTabs != null ? defaultConfig.stretchTabs : true;
   }
 
   override ngAfterContentInit() {