diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
index 9ee22496d39c..bef825705c39 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import {MatFormField} from '@angular/material/form-field';
 import {DOCUMENT} from '@angular/common';
 import {Observable} from 'rxjs/Observable';
 import {Subject} from 'rxjs/Subject';
+import {defer} from 'rxjs/observable/defer';
 import {fromEvent} from 'rxjs/observable/fromEvent';
 import {merge} from 'rxjs/observable/merge';
 import {of as observableOf} from 'rxjs/observable/of';
@@ -202,9 +203,17 @@ export class MatAutocompleteTrigger implements ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
   }
 
   /** Stream of autocomplete option selections. */
-  get optionSelections(): Observable<MatOptionSelectionChange> {
-    return merge(...this.autocomplete.options.map(option => option.onSelectionChange));
-  }
+  optionSelections: Observable<MatOptionSelectionChange> = defer(() => {
+    if (this.autocomplete && this.autocomplete.options) {
+     return merge(...this.autocomplete.options.map(option => option.onSelectionChange));
+    }
+
+    // If there are any subscribers before `ngAfterViewInit`, the `autocomplete` will be undefined.
+    // Return a stream that we'll replace with the real one once everything is in place.
+    return this._zone.onStable
+        .asObservable()
+        .pipe(take(1), switchMap(() => this.optionSelections));
+  });
 
   /** The currently active option, coerced to MatOption type. */
   get activeOption(): MatOption | null {
diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
index a98d236344f7..7a256f3f7705 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import {
   flush,
 } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {FormControl, FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule} from '@angular/forms';
-import {MatOption} from '@angular/material/core';
+import {MatOption, MatOptionSelectionChange} from '@angular/material/core';
 import {MatFormField, MatFormFieldModule} from '@angular/material/form-field';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {NoopAnimationsModule} from '@angular/platform-browser/animations';
@@ -1309,6 +1309,45 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
       expect(componentOptions[0].deselect).toHaveBeenCalled();
       componentOptions.slice(1).forEach(option => expect(option.deselect).not.toHaveBeenCalled());
     }));
+
+    it('should emit an event when an option is selected', fakeAsync(() => {
+      const spy = jasmine.createSpy('option selection spy');
+      const subscription = fixture.componentInstance.trigger.optionSelections.subscribe(spy);
+      const option = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('mat-option') as HTMLElement;
+      option.click();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.any(MatOptionSelectionChange));
+      subscription.unsubscribe();
+    }));
+
+    it('should handle `optionSelections` being accessed too early', fakeAsync(() => {
+      overlayContainer.ngOnDestroy();
+      fixture.destroy();
+      fixture = TestBed.createComponent(SimpleAutocomplete);
+
+      let spy = jasmine.createSpy('option selection spy');
+      let subscription: Subscription;
+
+      expect(fixture.componentInstance.trigger.autocomplete).toBeFalsy();
+      expect(() => {
+        subscription = fixture.componentInstance.trigger.optionSelections.subscribe(spy);
+      }).not.toThrow();
+
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      zone.simulateZoneExit();
+
+      const option = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('mat-option') as HTMLElement;
+
+      option.click();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+      zone.simulateZoneExit();
+
+      expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.any(MatOptionSelectionChange));
+    }));
+
   });
 
   describe('panel closing', () => {