diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
index f0d1aae55a87..ea86763a5722 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
@@ -493,7 +493,6 @@ export class MatAutocompleteTrigger implements ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
         switchMap(() => {
           this._resetActiveItem();
           this.autocomplete._setVisibility();
-          this._changeDetectorRef.detectChanges();
 
           if (this.panelOpen) {
             this._overlayRef!.updatePosition();
diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
index 42038e56fe7b..143ea70c8f00 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -1644,22 +1644,6 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
           .toContain('mat-active', 'Expected first option to be highlighted.');
     }));
 
-    it('should be able to preselect the first option when the floating label is disabled',
-      fakeAsync(() => {
-        fixture.componentInstance.floatLabel = 'never';
-        fixture.componentInstance.trigger.autocomplete.autoActiveFirstOption = true;
-        fixture.detectChanges();
-
-        fixture.componentInstance.trigger.openPanel();
-        fixture.detectChanges();
-        zone.simulateZoneExit();
-        // Note: should not have a detectChanges call here
-        // in order for the test to fail when it's supposed to.
-
-        expect(overlayContainerElement.querySelectorAll('mat-option')[0].classList)
-            .toContain('mat-active', 'Expected first option to be highlighted.');
-      }));
-
     it('should be able to configure preselecting the first option globally', fakeAsync(() => {
       overlayContainer.ngOnDestroy();
       fixture.destroy();