diff --git a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.spec.ts b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.spec.ts
index 0b0d4f476dca..855b7f1d1015 100644
--- a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.spec.ts
@@ -784,6 +784,14 @@ describe('MatCheckbox', () => {
       expect(checkbox.tabIndex)
         .toBe(5, 'Expected tabIndex property to have been set based on the native attribute');
     }));
+
+    it('should clear the tabindex attribute from the host element', () => {
+      fixture = createComponent(CheckboxWithTabindexAttr);
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      const checkbox = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(MatCheckbox)).nativeElement;
+      expect(checkbox.getAttribute('tabindex')).toBeFalsy();
+    });
   });
 
   describe('using ViewChild', () => {
diff --git a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
index 772ccf3e091a..040e9bd9a93c 100644
--- a/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
+++ b/src/lib/checkbox/checkbox.ts
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ export const _MatCheckboxMixinBase:
   host: {
     'class': 'mat-checkbox',
     '[id]': 'id',
+    '[attr.tabindex]': 'null',
     '[class.mat-checkbox-indeterminate]': 'indeterminate',
     '[class.mat-checkbox-checked]': 'checked',
     '[class.mat-checkbox-disabled]': 'disabled',