diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
index 8ccea2c91341..890af325d894 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete-trigger.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {
 } from '@angular/cdk/overlay';
 import {TemplatePortal} from '@angular/cdk/portal';
 import {DOCUMENT} from '@angular/common';
-import {filter, take, switchMap, delay, tap} from 'rxjs/operators';
+import {filter, take, switchMap, delay, tap, map} from 'rxjs/operators';
 import {
   ChangeDetectorRef,
   Directive,
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ export class MatAutocompleteTrigger implements ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
    * A stream of actions that should close the autocomplete panel, including
    * when an option is selected, on blur, and when TAB is pressed.
    */
-  get panelClosingActions(): Observable<MatOptionSelectionChange> {
+  get panelClosingActions(): Observable<MatOptionSelectionChange|null> {
     return merge(
       this.optionSelections,
       this.autocomplete._keyManager.tabOut.pipe(filter(() => this._overlayAttached)),
@@ -205,6 +205,9 @@ export class MatAutocompleteTrigger implements ControlValueAccessor, OnDestroy {
       this._overlayRef ?
           this._overlayRef.detachments().pipe(filter(() => this._overlayAttached)) :
           observableOf()
+    ).pipe(
+      // Normalize the output so we return a consistent type.
+      map(event => event instanceof MatOptionSelectionChange ? event : null)
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
index d98576933023..f4956730693a 100644
--- a/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/src/lib/autocomplete/autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -1569,7 +1569,7 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
     it('should emit panel close event when clicking away', () => {
       expect(closingActionSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       dispatchFakeEvent(document, 'click');
-      expect(closingActionSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(closingActionSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(null);
     });
 
     it('should emit panel close event when tabbing out', () => {
@@ -1578,7 +1578,7 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
 
       expect(closingActionSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       trigger._handleKeydown(tabEvent);
-      expect(closingActionSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(closingActionSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(null);
     });
 
     it('should not emit when tabbing away from a closed panel', () => {
@@ -1603,7 +1603,7 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
 
       expect(closingActionSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       option.click();
-      expect(closingActionSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(closingActionSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(jasmine.any(MatOptionSelectionChange));
     });
 
     it('should close the panel when pressing escape', () => {
@@ -1611,7 +1611,7 @@ describe('MatAutocomplete', () => {
 
       expect(closingActionSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       trigger._handleKeydown(escapeEvent);
-      expect(closingActionSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(closingActionSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(null);
     });
   });