diff --git a/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts b/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
index f0dc22271957..5d44899981e2 100644
--- a/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
+++ b/src/lib/dialog/dialog-ref.ts
@@ -89,6 +89,13 @@ export class MdDialogRef<T> {
     return this._beforeClose.asObservable();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Gets an observable that emits when the overlay's backdrop has been clicked.
+   */
+  backdropClick(): Observable<void> {
+    return this._overlayRef.backdropClick();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Updates the dialog's position.
    * @param position New dialog position.
diff --git a/src/lib/dialog/dialog.spec.ts b/src/lib/dialog/dialog.spec.ts
index ca09dc13883c..b06150d8c8e1 100644
--- a/src/lib/dialog/dialog.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/dialog/dialog.spec.ts
@@ -237,6 +237,30 @@ describe('MdDialog', () => {
     });
   }));
 
+  it('should emit the backdropClick stream when clicking on the overlay backdrop', async(() => {
+    const dialogRef = dialog.open(PizzaMsg, {
+      viewContainerRef: testViewContainerRef
+    });
+
+    const spy = jasmine.createSpy('backdropClick spy');
+    dialogRef.backdropClick().subscribe(spy);
+
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    let backdrop = overlayContainerElement.querySelector('.cdk-overlay-backdrop') as HTMLElement;
+
+    backdrop.click();
+    expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    viewContainerFixture.detectChanges();
+
+    viewContainerFixture.whenStable().then(() => {
+      // Additional clicks after the dialog has closed should not be emitted
+      backdrop.click();
+      expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+  }));
+
   it('should notify the observers if a dialog has been opened', () => {
     dialog.afterOpen.subscribe(ref => {
       expect(dialog.open(PizzaMsg, {