diff --git a/src/lib/input/input-container.scss b/src/lib/input/input-container.scss
index a266bfd3297e..723f370cff32 100644
--- a/src/lib/input/input-container.scss
+++ b/src/lib/input/input-container.scss
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ $mat-input-underline-disabled-background-image:
 
   // Keeps the element height since the placeholder text is `position: absolute`.
   &::after {
-    content: '\\00a0';
+    content: '';
+    display: inline-table;
   }
 }